Surgical instruments with interactive features to remedy incidental sled movements

ABSTRACT

A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The loading unit comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw that comprising an anvil, and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other to grasp tissue. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising retaining features, and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel for assembly therewith. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge pan, and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position toward a second position. The retaining features are configured to resist a movement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predetermined force.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional under 37 C.F.R. § 1.53(b) ofU.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 17/109,595 filed Dec. 2, 2020, now U.S.Pat. No. 11,678,882, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to surgical instruments and, in variousarrangements, to surgical stapling and cutting instruments and staplecartridges for use therewith that are designed to staple and cut tissue.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a loading unit for usewith a surgical stapling instrument. The loading unit comprises a shaftand an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprisesa first jaw that comprising an anvil, and a second jaw. At least one ofthe first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other tograsp tissue. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprisingretaining features, and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongatedchannel for assembly therewith. The staple cartridge comprises acartridge pan, and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge panfrom a first position toward a second position. The retaining featuresare configured to resist a movement by the sled beyond the firstposition up to a predetermined force.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a staple cartridgefor use with a surgical stapling instrument an elongated channel and adriving member. The staple cartridge comprising a deck defining a tissuecontacting surface, a housing, and a cartridge pan releasably attachableto the elongated channel. The staple cartridge further comprisesretaining features, staple drivers stored in the housing between thedeck and the cartridge pan, and staples stored in the housing. Thestaples are deployable through the deck into tissue by the stapledrivers. The staple cartridge further comprises a sled translatablerelative to the cartridge pan from a first position toward a secondposition to motivate the staple drivers to deploy the staples. Theretaining features are configured to resist a movement of the sledbeyond the first position up to a predetermined force.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a staple cartridgeassembly that comprises an elongated channel comprising a firstretaining feature, and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongatedchannel for assembly therewith. The staple cartridge comprises acartridge pan comprising a second retaining feature, and a sledtranslatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position towarda second position. The retaining features are configured to resist amovement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predeterminedforce.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features of the embodiments described herein, together withadvantages thereof, may be understood in accordance with the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings asfollows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical instrument, in accordancewith at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a motor operable, inner core, inaccordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing in an openconfiguration and the inner core shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing of FIG. 3 having a differentcolor associated therewith and being in a closed configuration, and theinner core shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 is an exploded assembly view of a non-articulatable loading unit,in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an exploded assembly view of an articulatable loading unit, inaccordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a loading unit, in accordance withat least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an expanded view of a portion of the loading unit of FIG. 7 .

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the distal end of adrive assembly showing a latch member of a firing lockout assembly in afirst or unlocked configuration.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the distal end of thedrive assembly of FIG. 9 showing the latch member in a second or lockedconfiguration.

FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view of a staple cartridge assembly of aload unit, in accordance with at least one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the loading unit of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple cartridgeassembly of FIG. 11 .

FIG. 14 is a partial exploded view of a staple cartridge, in accordancewith at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge ofFIG. 14 .

FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of a staple cartridge, inaccordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a partial exploded view of a staple cartridge, in accordancewith at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge ofFIG. 17 .

FIG. 19 is a partial exploded view of a staple cartridge assembly, inaccordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a top view and a cross-sectional view of a staple cartridge,in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a staple cartridge assemblyincluding the staple cartridge of FIG. 20 .

FIG. 22 is a partial cross-sectional view of a staple cartridgeincluding a sled and a retaining feature, in accordance with at leastone aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a partial upside down perspective view of the staplecartridge of FIG. 22 .

FIG. 24 illustrates a method of assembling the sled of the staplecartridge of FIG. 22 with the retaining feature.

FIG. 25 partially illustrates a staple cartridge assembly including astaple cartridge and an elongated channel, and a drive member of aloading unit, in accordance with at least one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 26 partially illustrates the staple cartridge assembly of FIG. 25 ,wherein the staple cartridge is properly seated in the elongatedchannel.

FIG. 27 is a partial transverse cross-sectional view of the staplecartridge assembly of FIG. 25 .

FIG. 28 is a partial transverse cross-sectional view of the staplecartridge assembly of FIG. 26 .

FIG. 29 is a partial perspective of a staple cartridge, in accordancewith at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 30 is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge ofFIG. 29 .

FIG. 31 is a logic flow diagram of a process depicting a control programor a logic configuration, in accordance with at least one aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 32 is a diagram of a surgical stapling instrument including afiring system, in accordance with at least one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 33 illustrates a drive member of the surgical stapling instrumentof FIG. 32 at three positions along a firing path thereof, and a sledadvanceable by the drive member to deploy staples of the surgicalstapling instrument of FIG. 32 .

FIG. 34 illustrates the drive member FIG. 32 at two positions along thefiring path.

FIG. 35 is a graph depicting, on the x-axis, the distance (δ) traveledby the drive member along the firing path from a starting position, andon the y-axis, the firing speed (V) and corresponding electrical load ofthe motor during a firing stroke of the powered surgical staplinginstrument, in accordance with at least one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 36 illustrates a staple cartridge including a retaining feature formaintaining a sled within the staple cartridge at a home position, inaccordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 37 illustrates the staple cartridge of FIG. 36 where the sled isadvanced distally within the staple cartridge beyond the home position.

FIG. 38 illustrates the retaining feature of the staple cartridge ofFIG. 36 .

FIG. 39 illustrates a partial exploded view of a surgical staplingassembly, in accordance with at least one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 40 is a graph illustrating varying resistances, on the y-axis, of asled detection circuit and corresponding travel distances, on thex-axis, of a sled of the surgical stapling assembly of FIG. 39 .

FIG. 41 is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple cartridgeincluding a sled reset circuit, in accordance with at least one aspectof the present disclosure.

FIGS. 42-44 illustrate three positions of a sled over staple cartridgewith respect to a retaining feature, in accordance with at least oneaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 45 illustrates a partial perspective view of a staple cartridgeincluding a sled retaining feature, in accordance with at least oneaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 46 illustrates the staple cartridge of FIG. 45 with a removedcartridge pan to expose the sled retaining feature.

FIG. 47 illustrates a simplified partial cross-sectional view of astaple cartridge assembly with a sled at a home position and at aposition different than the home position, in accordance with at leastone aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 48 illustrates a simplified partial cross-sectional view of thestaple cartridge assembly of FIG. 47 with a working end of a drivemember being advanced to engage a raised portion of a sled resettingmember, in accordance with at least one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 49 illustrates a handle of a surgical instrument including a firingtrigger movable to a first position and a second position, in accordancewith at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 50 illustrates a motor assembly operably coupled to a sledresetting member, in accordance with at least one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 51 illustrates a handle of a surgical instrument including a firingtrigger and a sled resetting actuator, in accordance with at least oneaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 52 illustrates a partial exploded view of a loading unit includingan anvil and a surgical stapling assembly including a staple cartridgefor assembly with an elongated channel, in accordance with at least oneaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 53 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the loading unitof FIG. 52 , showing a staple cartridge assembled with an elongatedchannel in an unlocked configuration and an anvil in an openconfiguration with the elongated channel

FIG. 54 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the loading unitof FIGS. 52 and 53 showing the staple cartridge and the elongatedchannel in a locked configuration and the anvil in a closedconfiguration with the elongated channel.

FIG. 55 illustrates a partial perspective view of the surgical staplingassembly of FIG. 52 in the locked configuration.

FIG. 56 illustrates a partial perspective view of the surgical staplingassembly of FIG. 52 being transitioned into from the lockedconfiguration to the unlocked configuration.

FIG. 57 illustrates a partial perspective view of a surgical staplingassembly including a retainer, a staple cartridge, and an elongatedchannel, in accordance with at least one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 58-61 illustrate a method of utilizing the retainer of FIG. 57 torelease the staple cartridge from the elongated channel.

FIG. 62 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a staple cartridgeassembly, in accordance with at least one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate certain embodiments of the invention, in one form, and suchexemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Applicant of the present application also owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on even date herewith and which are eachherein incorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,589 entitled METHOD FOR    TISSUE TREATMENT BY SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. Application    Publication No. 2022/0168038;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,598, entitled SURGICAL    INSTRUMENTS WITH SLED LOCATION DETECTION AND ADJUSTMENT FEATURES,    now U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2022/0167971;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,615, entitled SURGICAL    INSTRUMENT WITH CARTRIDGE RELEASE MECHANISMS, now U.S. Pat.    Application Publication No. 2022/0167972;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,627, entitled DUAL-SIDED    REINFORCED RELOAD FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat.    Application Publication No. 2022/0167981;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,636, entitled SURGICAL    SYSTEMS WITH DETACHABLE SHAFT RELOAD DETECTION, now U.S. Pat.    Application Publication No. 2022/0167973;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,645, entitled SURGICAL    INSTRUMENTS WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FOR POWER TRANSMISSION ACROSS    STERILE BARRIER, now U.S. Pat. Application Publication No.    2022/0167982;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,648, entitled DEVICES AND    METHODS OF MANAGING ENERGY DISSIPATED WITHIN STERILE BARRIERS OF    SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HOUSINGS, now U.S. Pat. Application Publication    No. 2022/0167983;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,651, entitled POWERED    SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH EXTERNAL CONNECTORS, now U.S. Pat.    Application Publication No. 2022/0167977;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,656, entitled POWERED    SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SMART RELOAD WITH SEPARATELY ATTACHABLE    EXTERIORLY MOUNTED WIRING CONNECTIONS, now U.S. Pat. Application    Publication No. 2022/0167974;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,667 entitled POWERED    SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH COMMUNICATION INTERFACES THROUGH STERILE    BARRIER, now U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2022/0167984; and-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/109,669, entitled POWERED    SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTI-PHASE TISSUE TREATMENT, now U.S.    Pat. Application Publication No. 2022/0167975.

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. Pat.Applications, filed on Dec. 4, 2018, the disclosure of each of which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety:

-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,385, entitled METHOD OF HUB    COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, STORAGE AND DISPLAY;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,395, entitled METHOD OF HUB    COMMUNICATION;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,403, entitled METHOD OF    CLOUD BASED DATA ANALYTICS FOR USE WITH THE HUB;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,407, entitled METHOD OF    ROBOTIC HUB COMMUNICATION, DETECTION, AND CONTROL;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,416, entitled METHOD OF HUB    COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,423, entitled METHOD OF    COMPRESSING TISSUE WITHIN A STAPLING DEVICE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY    DISPLAYING THE LOCATION OF THE TISSUE WITHIN THE JAWS;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,427, entitled METHOD OF    USING REINFORCED FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS WITH MULTIPLE SENSORS TO OPTIMIZE    PERFORMANCE OF RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,433, entitled METHOD OF    SENSING PARTICULATE FROM SMOKE EVACUATED FROM A PATIENT, ADJUSTING    THE PUMP SPEED BASED ON THE SENSED INFORMATION, AND COMMUNICATING    THE FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS OF THE SYSTEM TO THE HUB;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,447, entitled METHOD FOR    SMOKE EVACUATION FOR SURGICAL HUB;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,453, entitled METHOD FOR    CONTROLLING SMART ENERGY DEVICES;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,458, entitled METHOD FOR    SMART ENERGY DEVICE INFRASTRUCTURE;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,465, entitled METHOD FOR    ADAPTIVE CONTROL SCHEMES FOR SURGICAL NETWORK CONTROL AND    INTERACTION;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,478, entitled METHOD FOR    SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR SURGICAL NETWORK OR SURGICAL NETWORK    CONNECTED DEVICE CAPABLE OF ADJUSTING FUNCTION BASED ON A SENSED    SITUATION OR USAGE;-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,490, entitled METHOD FOR    FACILITY DATA COLLECTION AND INTERPRETATION; and-   U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 16/209,491, entitled METHOD FOR    CIRCULAR STAPLER CONTROL ALGORITHM ADJUSTMENT BASED ON SITUATIONAL    AWARENESS.

Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and useof the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. Well-known operations, components, andelements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure theembodiments described in the specification. The reader will understandthat the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limitingexamples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structuraland functional details disclosed herein may be representative andillustrative. Variations and changes thereto may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims.

Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for performinglaparoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures. However, thereader will readily appreciate that the various methods and devicesdisclosed herein can be used in numerous surgical procedures andapplications including, for example, in connection with open surgicalprocedures. As the present Detailed Description proceeds, the readerwill further appreciate that the various instruments disclosed hereincan be inserted into a body in any way, such as through a naturalorifice, through an incision or puncture hole formed in tissue, etc. Theworking portions or end effector portions of the instruments can beinserted directly into a patient’s body or can be inserted through anaccess device that has a working channel through which the end effectorand elongate shaft of a surgical instrument can be advanced.

A surgical stapling system can comprise a shaft and an end effectorextending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw and asecond jaw. The first jaw comprises a staple cartridge. The staplecartridge is insertable into and removable from the first jaw; however,other embodiments are envisioned in which a staple cartridge is notremovable from, or at least readily replaceable from, the first jaw. Thesecond jaw comprises an anvil configured to deform staples ejected fromthe staple cartridge. The second jaw is pivotable relative to the firstjaw about a closure axis; however, other embodiments are envisioned inwhich the first jaw is pivotable relative to the second jaw. Thesurgical stapling system further comprises an articulation jointconfigured to permit the end effector to be rotated, or articulated,relative to the shaft. The end effector is rotatable about anarticulation axis extending through the articulation joint. Otherembodiments are envisioned which do not include an articulation joint.

The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body. The cartridge bodyincludes a proximal end, a distal end, and a deck extending between theproximal end and the distal end. In use, the staple cartridge ispositioned on a first side of the tissue to be stapled and the anvil ispositioned on a second side of the tissue. The anvil is moved toward thestaple cartridge to compress and clamp the tissue against the deck.Thereafter, staples removably stored in the cartridge body can bedeployed into the tissue. The cartridge body includes staple cavitiesdefined therein wherein staples are removably stored in the staplecavities. The staple cavities are arranged in six longitudinal rows.Three rows of staple cavities are positioned on a first side of alongitudinal slot and three rows of staple cavities are positioned on asecond side of the longitudinal slot. Other arrangements of staplecavities and staples may be possible.

The staples are supported by staple drivers in the cartridge body. Thedrivers are movable between a first, or unfired position, and a second,or fired, position to eject the staples from the staple cavities. Thedrivers are retained in the cartridge body by a retainer which extendsaround the bottom of the cartridge body and includes resilient membersconfigured to grip the cartridge body and hold the retainer to thecartridge body. The drivers are movable between their unfired positionsand their fired positions by a sled. The sled is movable between aproximal position adjacent the proximal end and a distal positionadjacent the distal end. The sled comprises a plurality of rampedsurfaces configured to slide under the drivers and lift the drivers, andthe staples supported thereon, toward the anvil.

Further to the above, the sled is moved distally by a firing member. Thefiring member is configured to contact the sled and push the sled towardthe distal end. The longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body isconfigured to receive the firing member. The anvil also includes a slotconfigured to receive the firing member. The firing member furthercomprises a first cam which engages the first jaw and a second cam whichengages the second jaw. As the firing member is advanced distally, thefirst cam and the second cam can control the distance, or tissue gap,between the deck of the staple cartridge and the anvil. The firingmember also comprises a knife configured to incise the tissue capturedintermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil. It is desirable for theknife to be positioned at least partially proximal to the rampedsurfaces such that the staples are ejected ahead of the knife.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4 , a surgical instrument system is provided,such as, for example, an electromechanical surgical instrument system10. System 10 includes a handle assembly 100, a plurality of types ofadapter or shaft assemblies such as, for example, adapter assembly 200a, and a plurality of types of end effectors such as, for example, endeffector 300 a. Handle assembly 100 is configured for selectiveattachment thereto with any one of a number of adapter assemblies, forexample, adapter assembly 200 a, and, in turn, each unique adapterassembly 200 a is configured for selective connection with any number ofsurgical loading units or end effectors, such as, for example, endeffector 300 a. End effector 300 a and adapter assembly 200 a areconfigured for actuation and manipulation by handle assembly 100. Uponconnecting one adapter assembly 200 a, for example, to handle assembly100 and one type of end effector such as, for example, end effector 300a to the selected adapter assembly 200 a, a powered, hand-held,electromechanical surgical instrument is formed.

For a detailed description of the construction and operation of anexemplary electromechanical, hand-held, powered surgical instrument,reference may be made to International Publication No. WO 2009/039506and U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2011/0121049, the entirecontents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , handle assembly 100 includes an innercore 101 and a housing or shell 110 a configured to selectively receiveand encase inner core 101. Inner core 101 is motor operable andconfigured to drive an operation of a plurality of types of endeffectors. Inner core 101 has a plurality of sets of operatingparameters (e.g., speed of operation of motors of inner core 101, anamount of power to be delivered by motors of inner core 101 to anadapter assembly, selection of motors of inner core 101 to be actuated,functions of an end effector to be performed by inner core 101, or thelike). Each set of operating parameters of inner core 101 is designed todrive the actuation of a specific set of functions unique to respectivetypes of end effectors when an end effector is coupled to inner core101. For example, inner core 101 may vary its power output, deactivateor activate certain buttons thereof, and/or actuate different motorsthereof depending on the type of end effector that is coupled to innercore 101.

With specific reference to FIG. 2 , inner core 101 defines an innerhousing cavity therein in which a power-pack 106 is situated. Power-pack106 is configured to control the various operations of inner core 101.Power-pack 106 includes a plurality of motors 108 a, 108 b operativelyengaged thereto. The rotation of motors 108 a, 108 b function to driveshafts and/or gear components of adapter assembly 200 a, for example, inorder to drive the various operations of end effectors attached thereto,for example, end effector 300 a. Although two motors are depicted in theexample illustrated in FIG. 2 , in other examples, a handle assembly caninclude more or less than two motors.

In various examples, the handle assembly 100 is replaced with a roboticarm of a robotic system. In such examples, the adapter assembly 200 amay also be effectively employed with a tool drive assembly of arobotically controlled or automated surgical system. For example, theadapter assemblies disclosed herein may be employed with various roboticsystems, instruments, components, and methods such as, but not limitedto, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,072,535, entitled SURGICALSTAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS,which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

When end effector 300 a is coupled to inner core 101, motors ofpower-pack 106 are configured to drive shafts and/or gear components ofadapter assembly 200 a in order to selectively move end effector 300 arelative to a proximal body portion 302 a of end effector 300 a, torotate end effector 300 a about a longitudinal axis “X”, to move acartridge assembly 308 a and an anvil assembly 306 a of end effector 300a relative to one another, and/or to fire staples from within cartridgeassembly 308 a of end effector 300 a.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 , surgical instrument system 10 furtherincludes a disposable outer housing 110. The housing 110 is configuredto encase inner core 101 thereby inhibiting surgical debris frompenetrating and contaminating inner core 101 during a surgicalprocedure. The housing 110 selectively encases inner core 101 prior touse and may then be detached from inner core 101 following use in orderto be disposed of, or, in some instances, sterilized for re-use.

With reference to FIG. 3 , the housing 110 includes a housing portion112 a. The housing 110 further includes a housing portion 112 b movablycoupled to the housing portion 112 b by a hinge 120 a located along anupper edge of housing portion 112 b. Housing portions 112 a, 112 b arepivotable relative to one another between a closed, fully coupledconfiguration, as shown in FIG. 4 , and an open, partially detachedconfiguration, as shown in FIG. 3 . When joined, housing portions 112 a,112 b define a cavity 122 a therein in which inner core 101, memory 114,and a microprocessor 140 may be selectively situated. In certaininstances, the housing portions 112 a 112b may be fabricated from anysuitable material, such as, for example, a polycarbonate. In certaininstances, the memory 114 and the microprocessor 140 are incorporatedinto the inner core 101, for example.

It is contemplated that the memory 114 may be non-volatile memories,such as, for example, electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemories. Memory 114 have stored therein discrete operating parametersof inner core 101 that correspond to the operation of one type of endeffector, for example, end effectors such as, for example end effector300 a and/or one type of adapter assembly such as, for example, adapterassembly 200 a. The operating parameter(s) stored in memory 114 can beat least one of: a speed of operation of motors 108 a, 108 b of innercore 101; an amount of power to be delivered by motors 108 a, 108 b ofinner core 101 during operation thereof; which motors 108 a, 108 b ofinner core 101 are to be actuated upon operating inner core 101; typesof functions of end effectors to be performed by inner core 101; or thelike.

FIG. 5 depicts an example of a loading unit 16 that may be used inconnection with the surgical instrument system 10 in a manner discussedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361, the disclosure of which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

As can be seen in FIG. 5 , the loading unit 16 may generally comprise atool assembly 17 for performing surgical procedures such as cuttingtissue and applying staples on each side of the cut. In particular, thetool assembly includes a cartridge assembly 18 that houses a pluralityof surgical staples therein. The tool assembly 17 also includes astaple-forming anvil assembly 20 that has an anvil portion 204 that hasa plurality of staple deforming concavities formed in the undersurfacethereof. A cover plate 208 is commonly secured to a top surface of anvilportion 204 to define an anvil cavity therebetween. The anvil cavity isdimensioned to receive a distal end of an axial drive assembly 212. Alongitudinal slot 214 extends through anvil portion 204 to facilitatepassage of retention flange 284 of axial drive assembly 212 into theanvil cavity. A camming surface 209 is formed on a proximal end of anvilportion 204 and is positioned to engage axial drive assembly 212 tofacilitate closing of the anvil assembly 20.

Cartridge assembly 18 generally includes a carrier 216 which defines anelongated support channel 218. Elongated support channel 218 isdimensioned and configured to receive a staple cartridge 220 therein.Such staple cartridge 220 supports a plurality of fasteners and pushersas is known in the art. A plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal slots230 extend through staple cartridge 220 to accommodate upstanding camwedges 232 of an actuation sled 234. A central longitudinal slot 282extends along the length of staple cartridge 220 to facilitate passageof a knife blade 280 formed on the axial drive assembly 212. Duringoperation of the loading unit 16, actuation sled 234 translates throughlongitudinal slots 230 of staple cartridge 220 to advance cam wedges 232into sequential contact with the pushers that are operably supported inthe cartridge 220 to cause the pushers to translate vertically withinthe cartridge 220 and urge the fasteners (staples) associated with thepushers into the staple deforming cavities of the anvil assembly 20. Apair of pivot members 211 are formed on the proximal end of the anvilportion 204 and are configured to be received in slots 213 that areformed in carrier 216 to enable the anvil portion 204 to pivot betweenthe open and tissue-clamping positions.

As can also be seen in FIG. 5 , the loading unit 16 also has a housingportion 200 that is adapted to snap onto or otherwise be attached to thecarrier 216. The axial drive assembly 212 includes an elongated drivebeam 266 that has a distal working head 268 and a proximal engagementsection 270. As is known, the drive beam 266 may be constructed from asingle sheet of material or, preferably, from multiple stacked sheets.Engagement section 270 includes a pair of engagement fingers 270 a and270 b that are dimensioned and configured to mountingly engage a pair ofcorresponding retention slots 272 a formed in a drive member 272. Drivemember 272 may include a proximal aperture that is configured to receivethe distal end of a control rod as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361.

The distal end of drive beam 266 includes a vertical support strut 278which supports the knife blade 280, and an abutment surface 283 whichengages the central portion of actuation sled 234 during a staplingprocedure. Surface 285 is located at the base of surface 283 and isconfigured to receive a support member 287 that is slidably positionedalong the bottom of the carrier 216. Knife blade 280 is generallypositioned to translate slightly behind actuation sled 234 through acentral longitudinal slot 282 in staple cartridge 220 to form anincision between rows of stapled body tissue.

A retention flange 284 projects distally from vertical strut 278 andsupports a camming pin 286 at its distal end. Camming pin 286 isdimensioned and configured to engage camming surface 209 on anvilportion 204 to clamp anvil portion 204 against body tissue. In addition,a leaf spring 207 may be provided between the proximal end of the anvilportion 204 and the distal end portion of the housing 200 to bias theanvil assembly 20 to a normally open position. The loading unit 16 mayfurther include a lockout device 288 and spring 304 arrangement asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361.

FIG. 6 illustrates an articulatable loading unit 16′ that includes atool assembly 17 that has an anvil assembly 20 and cartridge assembly18. Anvil assembly 20 includes an anvil portion 204 that has a pluralityof staple deforming concavities formed in the undersurface thereof. Acover plate 208 is secured to a top surface of anvil portion 204 todefine an anvil cavity therebetween. The anvil cavity is dimensioned toreceive a distal end of an axial drive assembly 212. A longitudinal slot214 extends through anvil portion 204 to facilitate passage of retentionflange 284 of axial drive assembly 212 into the anvil cavity. A cammingsurface 209 formed on anvil portion 204 may be positioned to engageaxial drive assembly 212 to facilitate clamping of tissue between theanvil assembly 20 and the cartridge assembly 18.

The cartridge assembly 18 includes a carrier 216 that supports a staplecartridge 220 therein. Staple cartridge 220 includes retention slots 225for receiving a plurality of fasteners (staples) and pushers. Aplurality of spaced apart longitudinal slots 230 extend through staplecartridge 220 to accommodate upstanding cam wedges 232 of an actuationsled 234. A central longitudinal slot 282 extends along the length ofstaple cartridge 220 to facilitate passage of a knife blade 280. Duringoperation of the loading unit 16′, actuation sled 234 translates throughlongitudinal slots 230 of staple cartridge 220 to advance cam wedges 232into sequential contact with the pushers that are operably supported inthe cartridge 220 to cause the pushers to urge the fasteners into thestaple deforming cavities of the anvil assembly 20. A pair of pivotmembers 211 are formed on anvil portion 204 and are positioned withinslots 213 formed in the carrier 216 to guide the anvil portion 204between the open and tissue-clamping positions.

The articulatable loading unit 16′ further includes a housing portion200 that comprises an upper housing half 250 and a lower housing half252. The proximal end of housing half 250 may include engagement nubs254 for releasably engaging elongated body 14. Nubs 254 form a bayonettype coupling with the distal end of body 14 as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,865,361. As can also be seen in FIG. 6 , the axial drive assembly212 includes an elongated drive beam 266 that has a distal working headand a proximal engagement section 270. Drive beam 266 may be constructedfrom a single sheet of material or, preferably, from multiple stackedsheets. Engagement section 270 includes a pair of engagement fingers 270a and 270 b that are dimensioned and configured to mountingly engage apair of corresponding retention slots 272 a formed in a drive member272. Drive member 272 includes a proximal port-aperture configured toreceive the distal end of control rod when the proximal end of loadingunit 16′ is engaged with elongated body 14 of a surgical staplingapparatus as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361.

The distal end of drive beam 266 is defined by a vertical support strut278 which supports a knife blade 280, and an abutment surface 283 whichengages the central portion of actuation sled 234 during a staplingprocedure. Surface 285 at the base of surface 283 may be configured toreceive a support member 287 that is slidably positioned along thebottom of the carrier 216. Knife blade 280 is generally positioned totranslate slightly behind actuation sled 234 through a centrallongitudinal slot 282 in staple cartridge 220 to form an incisionbetween rows of stapled body tissue. To provide support to the drivebeam 266 within the housing portion 200 as the drive beam 266 isadvanced axially, a blade stabilizing member 290 is mounted within thehousing portion 200. A retention flange 284 projects distally fromvertical strut 278 and supports a pair of cylindrical cam rollers 286 atits distal end. Cam rollers 286 are dimensioned and configured to engagecamming surface 209 on anvil portion 204 to clamp anvil portion 204against body tissue.

The articulatable reload unit 16′ includes an articulation joint 340that includes a mounting assembly 202 that comprises an upper mountingportion 236 and a lower mounting portion 238. A pivot pin 244 is formedon each of the mounting portions 236, 238 and serve to define a pivotaxis “A1-A1” which may be substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis “L-L” of the articulatable loading unit 16′. Themounting assembly 202 is pivotally coupled to the distal end of thehousing portion 200 by a pair of coupling members 246. Each of couplingmembers 246 has an aperture 247 therethrough for receiving acorresponding pin 244 therethrough. The proximal end 248 of eachcoupling member 246 is configured to be interlockingly received in acorresponding groove 251 formed in the distal end of the upper housinghalf 250 and the distal end of the lower housing half 252. A pair ofsprings 207 are provided between the proximal end of the anvil portion204 and the upper mounting portion 236 to bias the anvil assembly 20 toa normally open position. An articulation link 256 may be provided toarticulate the tool assembly 17 about the articulation axis “A1-A1”relative to the housing portion 200 as is taught in U.S. Pat. No.5,865,361.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an example of a loading unit 1100 for use withthe surgical instrument system 10. The loading unit 1100 issubstantially as described in U.S. Pat. Application Publication No.2013/0098965 and U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2016/0249921,which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. Theloading unit 1100 includes a proximal body portion 1102 and a toolassembly 1104.

The loading unit 1100 further includes a drive assembly 1180 thatincludes a drive member 1182 having a body and a working end 1184. Theworking end 1184 includes an upper flange 1186 a, a lower flange 1186 b,a vertical strut interconnecting the upper flange 1186 a and the lowerflange 1186 b, and a knife 1187 supported on or formed into the verticalstrut. The upper flange 1186 a is positioned to be slidably receivedwithin the channel 1131 of the anvil assembly 1130 and the lower flange1186 b is positioned to be slidably positioned along an outer surface1156 a of the jaw member 1156. In use, distal movement of the drivemember 1182 initially advances the upper flange 1186 a into a camsurface formed on the anvil plate 134 and advances the lower flange 1186b into engagement with a cam surface 1156 b formed on the jaw member1156 to pivot the cartridge assembly 1150 towards the anvil assembly1130 to the approximated or closed position. Continued advancement ofthe drive member 1182 progressively maintains a minimum tissue gapbetween the anvil assembly 1130 and the cartridge assembly 1150 adjacentthe working end 184 of the drive assembly 1180 as the working end 1184moves through the tool assembly 1104.

Actuation sled 1162 is disposed within cartridge assembly 1150 at aposition distal of the working end 1184. When the working end 1184 is inits proximal-most position and the tool assembly 1104 is in the open orunapproximated position, the sled 1162 and the working end 1184 are intheir initial position. The sled 1162 includes a plurality of camsurfaces which are positioned to engage and lift the pushers within thestaple retention slots the cartridge body of cartridge assembly 1150.The pushers are positioned within the cartridge assembly 1150 to ejectthe staples from the cartridge body when the sled 1162 is advancedthrough the tool assembly 1104.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10 , the loading unit 1100 includes a firinglockout assembly 1221 that includes a latch member 1222 which ispivotally supported on a distal end of a lower mounting portion 1174.The latch member 1222 includes a U-shaped body having a proximal basemember 224 and two spaced distally extending legs. The base member 1224is provided with a blocking member which defines a blocking surface andis welded or secured to the base member 1224 to provide additionalsupport to the base member 1224. Alternatively, the base member 1224 andthe blocking member are integrally or monolithically formed. The latchmember 1222 is pivotal from a first position (FIG. 9 ) to a secondposition (FIG. 10 ). In the first position shown in FIG. 9 , theblocking member 1224 a of the latch member 1222 is aligned with the stopsurface 1184 a of the drive member 1182 to prevent advancement of thedrive member 1182 within the tool assembly 1104. In the second positionshown in FIG. 10 , the blocking member 1224 a is misaligned with thestop surface 1184 a of the drive member 1182 to permit advancement ofthe drive member 1182 within the tool assembly 1104.

Further to the above, insertion of an unfired cartridge assembly 1150into an elongated channel 1157 of the jaw member 1156 pivots the latchmember 1222 to the second position thereby permitting advancement of thedrive member 1182 within the tool assembly 1104. A proximal portion ofthe sled 1162 holds the latch member 1222 in the second position againstthe biasing force of a biasing member 1230. During firing, when the sled1162 is advanced distally through the cartridge assembly 1150, the sled1162 disengages from the latch member 1222, and the biasing member 230causes the latch member 1222 to return to the first position where thelatch member 1222 re-enters a locking engagement with the drive member182.

Notably, an incidental bumping or shaking of the unfired cartridgeassembly 1150 may cause a slight movement of the sled 1162 within theunfired cartridge assembly 1150. Such movement can be problematic as amisaligned sled 1162 cannot deactivate the firing lockout assembly 1221by causing the latch member 1222 to transition to the second positionupon insertion of the unfired cartridge assembly 1150. Consequently,advancement of the drive member 1182 remains hindered even though a newunfired cartridge assembly 1150 is ready for firing.

Further to the above, a properly installed unfired cartridge assembly1150 can suffer the same fate due to incidental bumping or shaking ofthe loading unit 1100. The slight movement of the sled 1162 may causethe latch member 1222 to be disengaged from the sled 1162, therebyallowing the latch member 1222 to be returned to the first position bythe biasing force of the biasing member 1230. Consequently, the firinglockout assembly 1221 is prematurely reactivated by the incidentalbumping or shaking of the loading unit 1100 before an actual firingcommences.

In either event, the misalignment of the sled 1162 can be frustrating toa user expecting an apparently properly-installed unfired cartridgeassembly 1150 to be fired to deploy staples into a tissue graspedbetween the anvil assembly 1130 and the cartridge assembly 1500. Whenthe firing inevitably fails, the user is left with no recourse but torelease the tissue sacrificing all the time spent to identifying themost suitable tissue bite and aligning the loading unit 1100 therewithfor grasping. Moreover, confident in that the cartridge assembly is newand unfired, the user may attempt to replace the loading unit 1100and/or the surgical instrument system 10, which is costly and will notbe a successful remedy if the user installs the cartridge assembly 1150was the misaligned sled 1162 into the new loading unit 1100.

The present disclosure provides various solutions that maintain a sled1162 in a proper position for an unfired cartridge assembly 1150.Additionally, or alternatively, the present disclosure provides variousmechanisms for detecting an incidental movement of the sled 1162 fromits proper position. The present disclosure further provides variousmechanisms actively returning the sled 1162 to its proper position.

Referring to FIGS. 11-13 , a loading unit 1200 is similar in manyrespects to the loading unit 1100. For example, the loading unit 1200includes the proximal body portion 1102 (FIG. 8 ) and a tool assembly1204 that includes an end effector with a jaw 1236 including an anvilassembly 1230 and a jaw 1256 including a staple cartridge assembly 1250.At least one of the jaws 1236, 1256 is movable relative to the other tograsp tissue between the anvil assembly 1230 and the staple cartridgeassembly 1250.

Furthermore, the staple cartridge assembly 1250 includes an elongatedchannel 1257 dimensioned and designed to receive and releasably retain astaple cartridge 1220 similar in many respects to other staplecartridges described elsewhere herein such as, for example, the staplecartridge 220. Staples are deployed from the staple cartridge 1220through a cartridge deck 1255 into the tissue via staple driversmotivated by the sled 1262 in a similar manner to that described inconnection loading units 16, 16′, 1100 of FIGS. 1-8 . The staples andthe staple drivers are stored in a cartridge body 1259 of the staplecartridge 1220.

A cartridge pan 1258 is attached to the bottom of the cartridge body1259 to prevent the staple drivers from falling out of the cartridgebody 1259. The cartridge pan 1258 includes a pan slot 1254 that isaligned with a cartridge slot defined in the cartridge deck 1255. Thepan slot 1254 is also aligned with a channel slot 1253 defined in a baseportion 1252 of the elongated channel 1257. During firing, the workingend 1184 of the drive member 1182 (FIG. 9 ) slidably moves through thecartridge slot, the pan slot 1254, and the channel slot 1253 distallyadvancing the sled 1262 from a fist position toward a second positionwithin the cartridge body to cause the staple drivers to deploy thestaples through the cartridge deck 1255.

Furthermore, the loading unit 1200 includes the firing lockout assembly1221 configured to prevent advancement of the drive member 1182 in theabsence of an unfired staple cartridge 1220 with a properly positionedsled 1262. To resist a movement of the sled 1262 due to an incidentalbumping or shaking of the staple cartridge 1220, the base portion 1252includes one or more retaining features (e.g., retaining features 1270a, 1270 b) configured to matingly engage the sled 1262 and resist amovement of the sled 1262 up to a predetermined force.

In certain instances, as illustrated in FIG. 13 , the sled 1262 includesone or more apertures, bores, grooves, or detents (e.g., detents 1272 a,1272 b) defined in a sled base 1263. The detents 1272 a, 1272 b arealigned with and configured to receive the retaining features 1270 a,1270 b when the sled 1262 is located at the first position. In theexample illustrated in FIGS. 11-13 , the retaining features 1270 a, 1270b extend through corresponding apertures or cutouts 1274 a, 1274 b inthe cartridge pan 1258 when the staple cartridge 1220 is properly seatedin the elongated channel 1257.

In the illustrated example, when the sled 1262 is at the first position,the retaining feature 1270 a, the detent 1272 a, and the cutout 1274 areside on a first side of a plane longitudinally bisecting the staplecartridge 1220 and extending longitudinally along the cartridge slot,the pan slot 1254, and the channel slot 1253. The retaining feature 1270b, the detent 1272 b, and the cutout 1274 b reside on a second side of aplane opposite the first side.

In various examples, the retaining features 1270 a, 1270 b are in theform of bumps or protrusions extending upwardly from the base portion1252. The retaining features 1270 a, 1270 b may define ramps and/orcurved profiles comprise with radii of curvatures dimensioned to resistadvancement of the sled 1262 when a driving force applied by the drivemember 1182 to the sled 1262 is less than or equal to a predeterminedforce.

In various aspects, a retaining feature may comprise a triangular prismshape, a partial ellipsoid shape, a partial spherical shape, a partialcylindrical shape, or a truncated pyramid shape. Other shapes are alsocontemplated by the present disclosure. In various aspects, a retainingfeature height may be less than, or equal to, than a depth acorresponding detent of a sled to ensure that the sled is not lifted bythe retaining feature when assembled therewith. In various aspects, thenumber of retaining features can be more or less than two. In oneexample, a single retaining feature can be employed with correspondingdetent and cutout. In another example, three or more retaining featurescan be employed with corresponding detents and cutouts. In certainexamples, dedicated cutouts are replaced with a single cutout thataccommodates the passing of multiple retaining features therethrough.

When the driving force applied by the drive member 1182 exceeds thepredetermined force, the sled 1262 moves out of alignment with theretaining features 1270 a, 1270 b toward the second position. After thesled 1262 reaches the second position, the drive member 1182 isretracted to a starting position where the firing lockout assembly 1221is reactivated to prevent re-advancement of the drive member 1182 untilan unfired staple cartridge 1220 is assembled with the elongated channelsuch that a sled 1262 is properly located at the first position. Aproximal portion of the sled 1262 engages the latch member 1222deactivating the firing lockout assembly 1221.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a retaining feature 1270 a of theunfired staple cartridge 1220 properly seated in the elongated channel1257. The detent 1272 a of the sled 1262 of the unfired staple cartridge1220 is properly aligned to receive the retaining feature 1270 a throughthe cutout 1274 a at a first position, which yields an unlockedconfiguration of the firing lockout assembly 1221. The retaining feature1270 a includes a base portion 1277 protruding from the elongatedchannel 1257 and extending into the cutout 1274 a, and a head portion1279 protruding from the based portion and extending into the detent1272 a of the sled 1262. The head portion 1279, but not the base portion1277, extend through the cutout 1274 a beyond the cartridge pan 1258 andinto the detent 1272 a.

The base portion 1277 ensures proper alignment of the staple cartridge1220 with the elongated channel 1257, and the head portion 1279 ensuresthat the sled 1262 remains at the first position until a driving forcegreater than a predetermined driving force is applied thereto. In theillustrated example, the base portion 1277 has a rectangular, or atleast substantially rectangular, cross-section. In certain instances,the head portion 1279 has a curved profile that defines a ramp resistsadvancement of the sled 1262 at or below a predetermined force definedby a radius of curvature of the head portion 1279.

Furthermore, the head portion 1277 is slightly smaller in size than thedetent 1272 a to permit slight movements of the sled relative to thehead portion 1279 without an unintended transition in the firing lockoutassembly from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration. Inthe illustrated example, the detent 1272 a has a length d₂ greater thana length d₁ of the head portion 1279 by a distance Δd (differencebetween d₁ and d₂). As such, the sled is slidably movable relative tothe cartridge pan 1258 a distance Δd without compromising the matingengagement between the head portion 1279 and the detent 1272 a.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a staple cartridge 1220′ similar in manyrespects to the staple cartridges 220, 1220. For example, the staplecartridge 1220′ includes the sled 1262 with the detents 1272 a. However,unlike the staple cartridge 1220, a cartridge pan 1258′ of the staplecartridge 1220′ does not include cutouts to accommodate retainingfeatures of an elongated channel. Instead, the cartridge pan 1258′includes retaining features 1270 a′ and 1270 b′ protruding from thecartridge pan 1258′. The retaining features 1270 a′ and 1270 b′ aresimilar in many respects to the retaining features 1270 a, 1270 b. Forexample, the retaining features 1270 a′ and 1270 b′ are configured tomatingly engage the detents 1272 a, 1272 b of the sled 1262 to maintainthe sled 1262 at the first position corresponding to an unlockedconfiguration of the firing lockout assembly 1221 (FIG. 9 ).

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 , the retaining features1270 a′, 1270 b′ are on opposite sides of the pan slot 1254. Theretaining features 1270 a′ 1270 b′ are defined in a base portion of thecartridge pan 1258′ adjacent side walls 1273 a, 1273 b. In theillustrated examples, the retaining features 1270 a′ 1270 b′ are alignedacross the pan slot 1254. In other examples, the retaining features 1270a′ 1270 b′ can be offset.

FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative staple cartridge 1220″ similar inmany respects to other staple cartridges described elsewhere herein suchas, for example, the staple cartridges 220. 1220. 1220′. Staples aredeployed from the staple cartridge 1220″ through a cartridge deck intotissue via staple drivers motivated by a sled 1162 in a similar mannerto that described in connection loading units 16, 16′, 1100 of FIGS. 1-8. The drive member 1182 is configured to deploy the staples from acartridge body through the cartridge deck by slidably advancing the sled1162 distally from a first position toward the second position relativeto the cartridge pan 1258″. The staple cartridge 1220″ includesretaining features 1270 a″, 1270 b″ defined in a base portion 1252″ of acartridge pan 1258″ on opposite sides of a pan slot 1254.

The staple cartridge 1220″ differs from the staple cartridge 1220′ inthat the retaining features 1270 a″, 1270 b″ are in the form of tabsthat are bent away from the base portion 1252″. The retaining features1270 a″, 1270 b″ define collapsible ramps that are configured to resista movement of the sled 1162 beyond the first position therebymaintaining the firing lockout assembly 1221 (FIG. 9 ) in the unlockedconfiguration while the sled 1162 is at the first position.

In the illustrated example, the sled 1162 can be slidably moved slightlyfrom the first position before engaging the retaining features 1270 a″,1270 b″. The permissible movement is insufficient to disengage the sled1162 from the latch member 1222 and, accordingly, is insufficient toprematurely transition the firing lockout assembly 1221 to the lockedconfiguration. As a distal portion of the sled 1162 engages theretaining features 1270 a″, 1270 b″, an additional advancement of thesled 1162 is resisted by the retaining features 1270 a″, 1270 b″.

When a drive force exerted by the drive member 1182 on the sled 1162exceeds the predetermined driving force, the sled 1162 is advanced overthe retaining features 1270 a″, 1270 b″. In certain instances, theretaining features 1270 a″, 1270 b″ are collapsed under the sled 1162when the drive force exerted by the drive member 1182 on the sled 1162exceeds the predetermined driving force.

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate a staple cartridge 1320 similar in manyrespects to other staple cartridges described elsewhere herein such as,for example, the staple cartridges 220. 1220. 1220′. Staples aredeployed from the staple cartridge 1320 through a cartridge deck 1355into the tissue via staple drivers motivated by a sled 1362 in a similarmanner to that described in connection loading units 16, 16′, 1100 ofFIGS. 1-8 . The staples and the staple drivers are stored in a cartridgebody 1359 of the staple cartridge 1320.

Further to the above, the sled 1362 of an unfired staple cartridge 1320is maintained at a default first position using retaining features 1370a, 1370 b defined in proximal portions of sidewalls of the cartridge pan1358. In the example illustrated in FIG. 17 , retaining features 1370 a,1370 b are in the form of leaf springs projecting inward. The leafsprings can be stamped or formed in the sidewalls of the cartridge pan1358. The retaining feature 1370 a includes a base attached to, andprotruding from, a sidewall of the cartridge pan 1358. An apex portionextends from the base, and is dimensioned to pass through cutouts (e.g.,cutout 1374 a) defined in the cartridge body 1359, and into the detentsdefined in sidewalls of the sled 1362 (e.g., detent 1372 a). Theretaining feature 1370 a defines a ramp that resists a distaladvancement of the sled 1362 up to a predetermined driving force.

FIG. 19 illustrates an alternative staple cartridge assembly 1450similar in many respects to the cartridge assembly 1250. For example,like the staple cartridge assembly 1250, the staple cartridge assembly1450 includes a staple cartridge 1420 that includes a sled 1462configured to deploy staples from a cartridge body through a cartridgedeck by slidably advancing the sled 1462 distally from a first positiontoward the second position relative to the cartridge pan 1458. When anunfired staple cartridge 1420 is properly assembled with an elongatedchannel 1457 of a loading unit, a firing lockout assembly 1221 istransitioned into an unlocked configuration to permit advancement of adrive member 1182 distally to motivate the sled 1462 to deploy thestaples.

The staple cartridge assembly 1450 differs from the staple cartridgeassembly 1250 in that the elongated channel 1457 includes retainingfeatures 1470 a, 1470 b in the form of grooves, bores, apertures, ordetents. The retaining features 1470 a, 1470 b are configured to receivesled protrusions 1472 a, 1472 b through cutouts 1474 a, 1474 b definedin the base portion of the cartridge pan 1458. The retaining features1470 a, 1470 b are configured to resist a movement of the sled 1462 upto a predetermined force. When the driving force of the drive member1182 is greater than the predetermined force, the sled 1462 is advanceddistally beyond the first position causing the sled protrusions 1472 a,1472 b to exit the retaining features 1470 a, 1470 b.

FIGS. 20-21 illustrate an alternative staple cartridge assembly 1550similar in many respects to the cartridge assemblies 1250, 1450. Thestaple cartridge assembly 1550 includes a staple cartridge 1520 similarin many respects to other staple cartridges described elsewhere hereinsuch as, for example, the staple cartridges 220, 1220, 1220′, 1220″,1420. Staples are deployed from the staple cartridge 1520 through acartridge deck 1555 into tissue via staple drivers motivated by a sled1562 in a similar manner to that described in connection loading units16, 16′, 1100 of FIGS. 1-8 . The drive member 1182 is configured todeploy the staples from a cartridge body through the cartridge deck 1555by slidably advancing the sled 1562 distally from a first positiontoward the second position relative to a cartridge pan 1558.

The staple cartridge 1520 includes one or more retaining features (e.g.,retaining features 1570 a, 1570 b) that are configured to resist adistal advancement of the sled 1562 until the staple cartridge 1520 isfully seated, or assembled, with an elongated channel 1557 of a loadingunit. In the illustrated example, a retaining feature 1570 b is in theform of a collapsible leaf spring defined in a cartridge pan 1558 bybending an existing pan sheet metal. In the illustrated example, theretaining feature 1570 b comprises a first portion bent towards thecartridge deck 1555 and a second portion bent away from the cartridgedeck 1555. A curved portion extends between, and connects, the firstportion and the second portion. In the illustrated example, the secondportion is slightly longer than the first portion.

Insertion of the staple cartridge 1520 into the elongated channel 1557,as illustrated in FIG. 21 , causes the retaining features 1570 a, 1570 bto be collapsed, or flattened, against the elongated channel 1557, whichallows the sled 1562 to be moved distally by the drive member 1182. Theretaining features 1570 a, 1570 b resist an advancement of the sled 1562until their collapse by the insertion of the staple cartridge 1520 intothe elongated channel 1557. In other words, the retaining features 1570a, 1570 b are configured to maintain the sled 1562 at the first positionuntil the staple cartridge 1520 is inserted into the elongated channel1557. In doing so, the retaining features 1570 a, 1570 b ensure that thesled 1562 transitions the firing lockout assembly 1221 to the unlockedconfiguration to allow advancement of the drive member 1182.

FIGS. 22-24 depict an alternative staple cartridge 1620 with a retainingfeature 1670 similar in many respects to the staple cartridge 1520 andits retaining features 1570 a, 1570 b. For example, the retainingfeature 1670 is also in the form of a collapsible leaf spring defined ina cartridge pan 1658 by bending an existing pan sheet metal. However,unlike the retaining features 1570 a, 1570 b, the retaining feature 1670is not collapsed, or flattened, by the insertion of the staple cartridge1620 into an elongated channel of a loading unit. Instead, a sled 1662of the staple cartridge 1620 includes a groove, aperture, bore, ordetent 1672 configured to receive the retaining feature 1670, asillustrated in FIG. 22 .

Like other collapsible retaining features described elsewhere herein,the retaining feature 1670 is configured to maintain the sled 1662 at afirst position thereby ensuring an unlocked configuration of the firinglockout assembly 1221 by a sustained engagement between the latch member1222 and the sled 1662. When a drive force exerted by the drive member1182 against the sled 1662 exceeds a predetermined threshold, theretaining feature 1670 collapses out of the detent 1672 permittingfurther advancement of the sled 1662.

In the illustrated example, the retaining feature 1670 includes a firstportion 1671, a second portion 1673, and an intermediate bent portion1675 extending between, and connecting, the portions 1671, 1673. Theportion 1671 includes an aperture 1679. During assembly, as illustratedin FIG. 24 , a hook member 1681 engages the portion 1671 at the aperture1679 to temporarily pull the retaining feature 1670 back to permit thesled 1662 to be slidably moved to the first position. The hook member1681 then releases the portion 1671, which allows the retaining feature1670 to be received in the detent 1672.

Referring now to FIGS. 25-28 , a staple cartridge assembly 1750 issimilar in many respects other staple cartridge assemblies describedelsewhere herein such as, for example, the staple cartridge assembly1250. For example, the staple cartridge assembly 1750 includes anelongated channel 1757 dimensioned and designed to receive andreleasably retain a staple cartridge 1720 similar in many respects toother staple cartridges described elsewhere herein such as, for example,the staple cartridge 220. 1220. Staples are deployed from the staplecartridge 1720 through a cartridge deck into tissue via staple driversmotivated by the sled 1762 in a similar manner to that described inconnection loading units 16, 16′, 1100 of FIGS. 1-8 . The staples andthe staple drivers are stored in a cartridge body of the staplecartridge 1720. During firing, the working end of the drive member 1182distally advances the sled 1762 from a fist position toward a secondposition within the cartridge body to cause the staple drivers to deploythe staples.

Like the staple cartridge assembly 1250, the staple cartridge assembly1750 includes a retaining feature 1770 disposed in the elongated channel1757. In the illustrated example, the retaining feature 1770 is in theform of a leaf spring flattened, or at least partially flattened, in abiased configuration by a hard stop that includes hard stop portions1771 a, 1771 b that are defined in opposing side walls 1757 a, 1757 b ofthe elongated channel 1757. When an unfired staple cartridge 1720 isproperly assembled with the elongated channel 1757, the sled 1762presses the hard stop portions 1771 a, 1771 b into the opposing sidewalls 1757 a, 1757 b, respectively, thereby allowing the retainingfeature 1770 to be released from the hard stop portions 1771 a, 1771 b.

A distal portion of the retaining feature 1770 then engages acorresponding detent 1772 in the sled 1762 pulling and maintaining thesled 1762 at a first position corresponding to an unlocked configurationof the lockout firing assembly 1221. In the illustrated example, theengagement between the retaining feature 1770 and that the detent 1772permits a slight movement of the sled 1762 within a predefined thresholddistance “d” without transitioning the firing lockout assembly 1221 tothe locked configuration.

As described in greater detail was other retaining features of thepresent disclosure, the retaining feature 1770 is configured to resistan advancement of the sled 1762 up to a predetermined force. When thedriving force of the drive member 1182 is greater than the predeterminedforce, the sled 1762 is released from the retaining feature 1770, and isadvanced distally beyond the first position. The advancement of the sled1762 over the retaining feature 1770 resets the retaining feature 1770into a locking engagement with the hard stop portions 1771 a, 1771 b.

The retaining feature 1770 is then maintained in a flattened, or atleast partially flattened, configuration by the hard stop portions 1771a, 1771 b until another unfired staple cartridge 1720 is inserted intothe elongated channel 1757. In the illustrated example, maintaining theretaining feature 1770 in a flattened, or at least partially flattened,the configuration reduces drag on the drive member 1182 during theremainder of the firing.

In the illustrated example, the sled 1762 include one or more features1773 designed and dimensioned to engage and depress the hard stopportions 1771 a, 1771 b into the opposing side walls 1757 a, 1757 b. Thehard stop portions 1771 a, 1771 b can be spring biased such that theyreturn to a locking engagement with the retaining feature 1770 afterdisengaging from the one or more features 1773.

In various aspects, one or more of the sled positioning and/or retainingmechanisms described in the present disclosure can be combined positionand/or maintain the sled in a staple cartridge prior to and afterinsertion of the staple cartridge into an elongated channel of theloading unit. For example, a first positioning and/or retainingmechanism can be employed to maintain the sled at a first positionwithin the staple cartridge prior to insertion of the staple cartridgeinto the elongated channel. Then, second positioning and/or retainingmechanism can be employed to maintain the sled at the first positionwithin the staple cartridge after the insertion of the staple cartridgeinto the elongated channel.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 25-28 , the one or more features1773 can be received in corresponding apertures or cutouts of acartridge pan, as described in connection with the loading unit 1200 ofFIGS. 11-13 . The features 1773 maintain the sled at the first positionwithin the staple cartridge 1720 prior to insertion of the staplecartridge 1720 into the elongated channel 1757. After the insertion,however, the sled 1762 is maintained at the first position by theretaining feature 1770. Accordingly, a staple cartridge assembly (e.g.,staple cartridge assembly 1750) can be configured to maintain the sledat the first position differently before insertion than after insertioninto an elongated channel. In other words, the insertion of the staplecartridge into the elongated channel may cause an active retainingfeature to deactivated, and cause an inactive retaining feature to beactivated.

Referring to FIGS. 29-30 , a staple cartridge 1820 is similar respectsto other staple cartridges described elsewhere herein such as, forexample, the staple cartridge 220. For example, like the staplecartridge 220, the staple cartridge 1820 includes the knife blade 280(FIG. 5 ). A central longitudinal slot 1882 is defined in staplecartridge 220 along a central longitudinal plane 1884. The knife blade280 is generally positioned to translate slightly behind a sled 1860through the central longitudinal slot 1882 in the staple cartridge 1820to form an incision between rows of stapled body tissue.

In various aspects, the sled 1860 is maintained at a first, or home,position by a retaining feature 1855 extending across the centrallongitudinal slot 1882. In the illustrated example, the retainingfeature 1855 includes a weakened central portion 1885 c extendingbetween portions 1885 a, 1885 b that defined hinging gates attached atone end thereof to sidewalls 1882 a, 1882 b, respectively. In theillustrated example, the central portion 1885 c includes a perforatedbreakable body. In other examples, the central portion 1885 c maycomprise a smaller thickness than the portions 1885 a, 1885 b.

In any event, the central portion 1885 c is designed and dimensioned toresist an advancement of the sled 1860 up to a predetermined drivingforce threshold. Beyond the threshold, the knife blade 280 applies aforce to the sled 1860 that breaks through the central portion 1885 ccausing the portions 1885 a, 1885 b to fold or swing open allowing thesled 1860 move distally beyond the first, or home, position.

As described in greater detail elsewhere herein, an incidental bumpingor shaking of the unfired staple cartridge may cause an unintendedmovement of the sled within the unfired staple cartridge. FIG. 31illustrates a logic flow diagram of a process 1920 depicting a controlprogram or a logic configuration for detecting 1922 the location of asled of a powered surgical stapling instrument along a firing paththereof, and adjusting 1924 one or more motor settings, or motor controlprograms, of the powered surgical stapling instrument based on thelocation of the sled along the firing path.

FIGS. 32-34 illustrate a powered surgical stapling instrument 1901 thatincludes a firing system 1902 configured to detect the location of asled along a firing path thereof, and adjust one or more motor settings,or motor control programs, based on the location of the sled along thefiring path, in accordance with the process 1920. The firing system 1902includes a control circuit 1930 configured to perform the process 1920.In the illustrated example, the control circuit 1930 comprises acontroller 1932 that includes a processor 1934 and a memory 1936 storingprogram instructions, which when executed by the processor 1934, causesthe processor 1934 to perform one or more aspects of the process 1920.

The surgical stapling instrument 1901 further includes a loading unit1900 similar in many respects to other loading units described elsewhereherein such as, for example, the loading units 1100, 1200. For example,like the loading unit 1100, the loading unit 1900 includes a driveassembly 1980 that includes a drive member 1982. A motor assembly 1904includes a motor configured to move the drive member 1982 along apredefined firing path to advance a sled 1962 distally to deploy staples1908 from a staple cartridge 1921 into tissue grasped between the staplecartridge 1921 and an anvil assembly 1931. The sled 1962 includes aplurality of cam surfaces which are positioned to engage and lift thepushers within the staple retention slots of the cartridge body ofstaple cartridge 1921. The pushers are positioned within the staplecartridge 1921 to eject the staples 1908 from the cartridge body whenthe sled 1962 is advanced by the drive member 1982, as illustrated inFIGS. 33, 34 .

FIG. 35 is a graph 1940 illustrating, on the x-axis, the distance (δ)traveled by the drive member 1982 along the firing path from a startingposition, and on the y-axis, the firing speed (V) and correspondingelectrical load of the motor during a firing stroke of the poweredsurgical stapling instrument 1901 (FIG. 32 ), which are represented bylines 1942′, 1944′, 1946′, 1948′, 1950′, 1952′, and lines 1942, 1944,1946, 1948, 1950, 1952, respectively. A segment Δδ_(SC) along the firingpath defines acceptable initial sled-contact locations, where the drivemember 1982 is configured to first engage (See FIG. 33 ) the sled 1962during advancement of the drive member 1982 along the firing path. Inaddition, a segment Δδ_(IS) along the firing path defines acceptableinitial staple-contact locations, where the sled 1962, driven by thedrive member 1982, is configured to first engage (See FIG. 33 ) thepushers of the staples 1908 within the staple cartridge 1921.

In a successful firing, as illustrated by lines 1942, 1944, the drivemember 1982 is configured to initially contact (1M, 2M) the sled 1982within the segment Δδ_(SC), and the sled 1962, driven by the drivemember 1982, is configured to initially contact (1M’, 2M’) the pushersof the staples 1908 within the segment Δδ_(IS).

In various aspects, a rapid increase, or a step-up, in the electric loadof the motor to a value (F_(S1), FIG. 33 ) within a predetermined range(F-sled_(min) to F-sled_(max)) indicates that an initial contact betweenthe drive member 1982 and the sled 1962 is detected. In various aspects,the control circuit 1930 detects the location of the sled 1962 bymonitoring at least one parameter indicative of the electric load of themotor such as, for example, the current draw of the motor.

Likewise, a rapid increase, or a step-up, in the electric load of themotor to a value (F_(S2), FIG. 33 ) within a predetermined range(F-staple_(min) to F-staple_(max)), which is greater than thepredetermined range (F-sled_(min) to F-sled_(max)), indicates that aninitial contact between the sled 1962, driven by the drive member 1982,and the pushers of the staples 1908 is detected. In various aspects, thecontrol circuit 1930 detects the initial contact between the sled 1962and the staple pushers by monitoring at least one parameter indicativeof the electric load of the motor such as, for example, the current drawof the motor.

If the rapid increase in the electric load of the motor is detectedwithin the segment Δδ_(SC), the control circuit 1930 permits the drivemember 1982 to continue advancing the sled 1962 along the firing path ata speed less than or equal to a predetermined maximum speed(V-sled_(max)) until the sled 1982 engages the pushers of the staplecartridge 1921, which is characterized by another rapid increase in theelectric load of the motor to a value (F_(S2), FIG. 33 ), as discussedabove. The detection of the initial contact between the sled 1962 andthe staple pusher causes control circuit 1930 to ramp up (1R, 2R) thespeed of the of the drive member 1982 to a speed greater than apredetermined minimum speed (V-firing_(min)) and less than or equal to apredetermined maximum speed (V-firing_(max)).

If, however, the control circuit 1930 fails (4M) to detect the locationof the sled 1962 within the segment Δδ_(SC), as illustrated by line1950, the control circuit 1930 may cause the drive member 1982 to stop(4R) by causing the motor assembly 1904 to stop the motor, for example.The control circuit 1930 may further prompt a user through a userinterface 1909 to replace the staple cartridge, as the absence of thesled 1962 can be due to an attachment of a previously fired staplecartridge to the cartridge channel of the loading unit 1900, or theabsence of a staple cartridge. If the user approves, the drive member1982 is returned (b) to the starting position. If, however, the user isconfident that an unfired staple cartridge has been attached to thecartridge channel, the sled 1962 may have been moved or misaligned dueto an incidental bumping of the staple cartridge.

To resolve the issue, the control circuit 1930 prompts the user forpermission to continue (a) advancing the drive member 1982 until apredetermined maximum threshold value δ_(max) of travel without sleddetection is reached (5M, 5R). If the sled 1962 is not detected, and thepredetermined maximum threshold value δ_(max) has been reached, thecontrol circuit 1930 causes the drive member to be returned to itsstarting position (5R′).

If, however, the sled 1962 is detected (6M, 6R) prior to reaching thepredetermined threshold value O_(max), the control circuit 1930 maypermit an additional advancement (6R′) of the drive member 1982 in apredetermined segment Δδ_(SL) to couple the drive assembly 1980 to thesled 1962, as described in greater detail below. The predeterminedsegment Δδ_(SL) defines a functional window of sled travel for ensuringthat a coupling between the drive member 1982 and the sled 1962 hasoccurred.

The control circuit 1980 then causes the motor to retract the drivemember 1980 to its starting position, which causes the sled 1962 toreturn to its home position (6R″) within the unfired staple cartridge.The control circuit 1930 may further prompt the user to push down anystaples 1908 incidentally lifted above the cartridge deck by theinadvertent advancement of the sled 1962. Once the sled is returned tothe home position, the control circuit 1930 may prompt the user toreinitiate (c) the firing stroke.

Further to the above, a successful detection (1M) of the sled 1962within the segment Δδ_(SC), accompanied by a failure (3M’) to detect aninitial contact between the sled 1962 and the staple pushers within thesegment Δδ_(IS), causes the control circuit 1930 to stop (3R) theadvancement of the drive member 1982 at, or about, the end of segmentΔδ_(IS). The control circuit 1930 may further cause the drive member1982 to return to the starting position.

Although the process 1920 is described as being executed by a controlcircuit 1930, this is merely for brevity, and it should be understoodthat the process 1920, and other processes described elsewhere herein,can be executed by circuitry that can include a variety of hardwareand/or software components and may be located in or associated withvarious suitable systems described by the present disclosure such as,for example, the combinational logic circuit or the sequential logiccircuit.

In various forms, the motor of the motor assembly 1904 may be a DCbrushed driving motor having a maximum rotation of, approximately,25,000 RPM, for example. In other arrangements, the motor may include abrushless motor, a cordless motor, a synchronous motor, a stepper motor,or any other suitable electric motor. The motor may be powered by apower source 1910 that, in one form, may comprise a removable powerpack. The power source 1910 may comprise, for example, anyone of thevarious power source arrangements disclosed in further detail in U.S.Pat. Application Publication No. 2015/0272575 and entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SENSOR SYSTEM, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

In at least one example, the surgical stapling instrument 1901 isimplemented as a hand-held surgical instrument similar in many respectsto the surgical instrument system 10 of FIG. 1 . In another example, thesurgical stapling instrument 1901 is implemented as a robotic surgicalstapling instrument similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.9,072,535, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLEDEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

In various examples, the surgical instrument 1901 includes sensors 1938that comprise one or more sensors configured to monitor a parameterindicative of the position of the drive member 1982 along the firingpath. The sensors 1938 may further include one or more sensorsconfigured to monitor the current draw of the motor. Readings sensors1938 can aid the control circuit 1930 detect the presence of the drivemember 1982 is in the segment Δδ_(SC) or the segment Δδ_(IS), detect aninitial contact between the drive member 1982 and the sled 1962, and/ordetect an initial contact between the sled 1962, driven by the drivemember 1982, and the pushers of the staples 1908, for example.

In various aspects, the sensors 1938 may include various other sensorssuch as, for example, a magnetic sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, astrain gauge, a pressure sensor, an inductive sensor, such as an eddycurrent sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an opticalsensor, and/or any other suitable sensor to perform one or more aspectsof the process 1920, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 36-38 , a staple cartridge 2020 includes aretaining feature 2072 configured to maintain a sled 2062 within thestaple cartridge 2020 at a home, or start, position. The staplecartridge 2020 is similar in many respects to other staple cartridgesdisclosed elsewhere herein such as, for example, the staple cartridges1520, 1620. To resist a movement of the sled 2062 due to an incidentalbumping or shaking of the staple cartridge 2020, a cartridge pan 2058 ofthe staple cartridge 2020 includes one or more retaining features (e.g.,retaining features 2020) configured to matingly engage the sled 2062 andresist a movement of the sled 2062 up to a predetermined force.

In the illustrated example, the retaining feature 2072 is in the form ofa leaf spring projecting, or bent, inward. The leaf spring can bestamped or formed in a base proximal portion of the cartridge pan 2058.The retaining feature 2072 includes a base attached to, and protrudingfrom, the base portion of the cartridge pan 2058. An apex portionextends from the base, and is dimensioned to pass through cutouts (e.g.,cutout 2022) defined in the cartridge pan 2058, and into the detentsdefined in sidewalls of the sled 2062 (e.g., detent 2063). The retainingfeature 2072 defines a ramp that resists a distal advancement of thesled 2062 up to a predetermined driving force. The retaining feature2072 is flattened by the advancement of the sled 2072 when a drivemember (e.g., drive member 1982) exerts a driving force on the sled 2072greater than the predetermined driving force.

The staple cartridge 2020 includes a sled detection circuit 2073configured to determine whether the sled 2062 is outside the home, orstarting, position. The sled detection circuit 2073 includes theretaining feature 2072 and a wire, or rod, 2071 extending from a distalportion 2075 of the retaining feature 2072 through a groove 2077 definedin a proximal portion 2078 of the retaining feature 2072. The wire 2071terminates in an electrical contact 2079 such as for example a pogo pin.The electrical contact 2079 is configured to transition the sleddetection circuit 2073 between a closed configuration while theretaining feature 2072 is bent as illustrated in FIG. 36 , and an openconfiguration while the retaining feature 2072 is flattened by the sled2062, as illustrated in FIG. 37 .

Accordingly, a control circuit such as, for example, the control circuit1930 of the surgical instrument 1901 may employ the sled detectioncircuit 2073 to determine whether the sled 2062 is outside the home, orstarting, position by detecting whether or not the sled detectioncircuit 2073 has transitioned from the closed configuration to the openconfiguration. A switch of the sled detection circuit 2073 from theclosed configuration to an open configuration signals the controlcircuit 1930 that the sled 2062 has been distally advanced beyond thehome, or starting, position. Further, a return of the sled detectioncircuit 2073 to the closed configuration signals the control circuit1930 that the sled detection circuit 2073 has been returned to the home,or starting, position.

Referring now to FIG. 39 , a staple cartridge assembly 2150 can be usedwith a loading unit such as, for example, the loading units 1100, 1200.In the illustrated example, the staple cartridge assembly 2150 includesan elongated channel 2157 dimensioned and designed to receive andreleasably retain a staple cartridge 2120 similar in many respects toother staple cartridges described elsewhere herein such as, for example,the staple cartridge 220. For example, staples also are deployed fromthe staple cartridge 2120 through a cartridge deck into tissue viastaple drivers, or pushers, motivated by a sled 2162 in a similar mannerto that described in connection loading units 16, 16′, 1100 of FIGS. 1-8. The staples and the staple drivers are stored in a cartridge body ofthe staple cartridge 2120.

A cartridge pan 2158 is attached to the bottom of the cartridge body toprevent the staple drivers from falling out of the staple cartridge2120. The cartridge pan 2158 includes a pan slot 2154 that is alignedwith a cartridge slot defined in the cartridge deck. The pan slot 2154is also aligned with a channel slot 2153 defined in a base portion 2152of the elongated channel 2157. During firing, the working end 1184 ofthe drive member 1182 slidably moves through the cartridge slot, the panslot 2154, and the channel slot 2153 distally advancing the sled 2162from a fist position toward a second position within the cartridge bodyto cause the staple drivers to deploy the staples through the cartridgedeck.

As described above in greater detail, a sled such as, for example, thesled 2162 can move from its home, or starting position, due to anincidental bumping or shaking of the staple cartridge 2120. To detectsuch movement, the staple cartridge assembly 2150 includes a sleddetection circuit 2160 configured to detect configured to detect thelocation of the sled 2162 as the home, or starting position andadditional locations distal to the home, or starting position through aseries of spaced apart electrical contacts 2170 a, 2170 b on oppositesides of the channel slot 2153. When corresponding electrical contacts2172 a, 2172 b of the sled are positioned against a pair of theelectrical contacts 2170 a, 2170 b, the sled detection circuit 2160 istransitioned into the closed configuration, and a signal unique to suchlocation, as illustrated in FIG. 41 , is transmitted to a controlcircuit such as, for example, the control circuit 1930.

The control circuit 1930 can determine the position of the sled 2162based on the received signal. For example, the memory 1936 may store analgorithm, an equation, or a look-up table for determining the positionof the sled based on one or more parameters of the received signals. Theprocessor 1934 may employ such algorithm, equation, and/or look-up tableto determine the position of the sled based on readings of the one ormore parameters. In one example, the readings are current or voltagereadings indicative of the position of the sled 2162.

In at least one example, the sensors 1938 include a current sensorconfigured to measure the current passing through the sled detectioncircuit 2160 in the closed configuration. For a given voltage, themeasured current value will change depending on the resistance. FIG. 41illustrates example resistances associated with different positions ofthe sled 2162 along the firing path. Each position is designed to yielda unique resistance and, as such, a unique current value associated withthe position. Accordingly, the current readings of the current sensorcan aid a control circuit (e.g., control circuit 1930) in determiningwhether the sled 2162 is in the home, or starting, position or in othermore distal positions.

As illustrated in FIG. 40 , an inherent baseline resistance exists inthe sled detection circuit 2160 leading back to the control circuit1930. Each time the sled 2162 completes the sled detection circuit 2160,additional resistance inherent to the lines in the channel will increasethe total resistance and, as such, yielding unique current readings pereach position along the firing path. In various aspects, intentionallyhigh-resistance circuit material and/or actual resistors may be used ateach contact-point.

In the illustrated examples, the electrical contacts 2170 a, 2170 b areraised above the base portion 2152 of the elongated channel 2157, anddefine biasing members configured to ensure a good connection with thestaple cartridge 2120. The electrical contacts 2170 a, 2170 b extendthrough cutouts 2174 a, 2174 b defined in the base portion 2159 of thecartridge pan 2158. In various aspects, the cartridge pan 2158 is coatedwith a thin film electrical insulator to prevent shorting. Similarly,the internal surface of the base portion 2152 can be coated with a thinfilm electrical insulator to prevent shorting. The electrical contacts2170 a, 2170 b extend through the electrical insulator film of thecartridge pan 2158.

In various aspects, signals from the sled detection circuit 2160indicate the completion of a firing stroke. Electrical contacts 2170 a,2170 b can be positioned at, or about, the end of the firing path. Inthe illustrated examples, electrical contacts 2170 a, 2170 b areposition at, or about, a distance 60 mm from the home, or starting,position. When the sled 2162 reaches the end of the firing stroke, theelectrical contacts 2172 a, 2172 b engage the electrical contacts 2170a, 2170 b transitioning the sled detection circuit 2160 to a closedconfiguration, and yielding a unique signal indicative of the completionof the firing stroke.

In the illustrated example, the sled 2162 is insulated except for aconductive portion 2161 that defines the electrical contacts 2172 a,2172 b. In other examples, however, the entire sled 2162 can becomprised of a conductive material. In such instances, the whole sled2162 becomes part of the sled detection circuit 2160.

Referring now to FIG. 41 , a staple cartridge 2220 is depicted. Thestaple cartridge 2220 is similar in many respects to other staplecartridges disclosed elsewhere herein such as, for example, the staplecartridges 1220′, 1220″, 1320, 1620. For example, the staple cartridge2220 includes a retaining feature 2270 configured to resist incidentalmovements of a sled to 2262 within the staple cartridge 2220 due to, forexample, an incidental bumping of the staple cartridge 2220.

In addition, the staple cartridge 2220 is further equipped with a sledreset circuit 2264 configured to retract the sled 2262 to a home, orstarting, position 2267. In the illustrated example, the sled 2262includes one or more apertures, bores, grooves, or detents (e.g., detent2272) defined in a sled base 2263. The detent 2272 is aligned with andconfigured to receive the retaining feature 2270. A driving forcegreater than a predetermined threshold is needed to separate theretaining feature 2270 from the sled 2262. Accordingly, the retainingfeature 2270 is configured to resist an advancement of the sled 2262 upto the predetermined threshold.

Furthermore, the retaining feature 2270 rides in a channel 2266 definedin a cartridge pan 2258 of the staple cartridge 2220. A proximal wall2266 a of the channel 2266 defines a proximal stopping position for theretaining feature 2270, which corresponds to the home, or starting,position 2267 of the sled 2262. A distal wall 2266 b of the channel 2266defines a distal stopping position of the retaining feature 2270 withinthe channel 2266. Since the retaining feature 2270 is not permitted tomove beyond the distal wall 2266 b, an additional movement of the sled2262 forces the sled 2262 to decouple from the retaining feature 2270.

Further to the above, the channel 2266 permits incidental movements ofthe sled 2262 and the retaining feature 2270 without decoupling the sled2262 from the retaining feature 2270 within a predetermined rangedefined by the length of the channel 2266, or the distance between theproximal wall 2266 a and the distal wall 2266 b. Prior to firing howeverthe sled reset circuit 2264 is activated to retract the retainingfeature 2270 to abut against the proximal wall 2266 a. The retraction ofthe retaining feature 2270 causes the sled 2262 to be retracted to thehome, or starting, position 2267. In the illustrated example, the sledreset circuit 2264 includes a solenoid 2269 that, when activated, isconfigured to pull, or retract, a wire or rod 2268 coupled to theretaining feature 2270.

As described elsewhere herein, the sled 2262 of an unfired staplecartridge 2220 prevents the firing lockout assembly 1221 fromtransitioning to a locked configuration while the sled 2262 is at thehome, or starting, position 2267. Accordingly, retraction of the sled2262 by the sled reset circuit 2264 ensures that an unfired staplecartridge 2220 is not mistaken for a previously fired staple cartridge2220 due to an incidental advancement of the sled to from the home, orstarting, position 2267. Notably, the sled reset circuit 2264 is capableof retracting the sled 2262 only when the retaining feature 2270 iscoupled to the sled 2262. Once the sled 2262 is advanced distally by thedrive member beyond its coupling engagement was the retaining feature2270, the staple cartridge 2220 is deemed as fired.

In various aspects, the sled reset circuit 2264 can be incorporated intoother staple cartridges disclosed elsewhere herein. In certain aspects,the sled reset circuit 2264 can be coupled to the control circuit 1930,and can be activated by the control circuit 1930, in response to adetermination by the control circuit 1930 that the sled 2262 is not atthe home, or starting, position 2267. In such aspects, one or more ofthe sensors 1938 may detect that the sled 2262 is at a position beyondthe home, or starting position 2267. In response, the control circuit1930 may activate the sled reset circuit 2264 to return the sled 2262 tothe home, or starting, position 2267 prior to initializing the firingstroke.

Referring now to FIGS. 42-44 , an alternative embodiment of a sled resetcircuit 2364 is depicted. Like the sled reset circuit 2264, the sledreset circuit 2364 is also configured to retract a sled 2362 to a home,or starting position within a predetermined range of motion of the sled2362 where a retaining feature 2370 remains movably coupled to the sled2362. Beyond the predetermined range, a drive member motivates the sled2362 to decouple from the retaining feature 2370. The retaining feature2370 is then retracted to a proximal starting position by the sled resetcircuit 2364.

Referring now to FIGS. 45-46 , a surgical stapling assembly 2450includes a staple cartridge 2420 including a sled 2462. The staplecartridge assembly 2450 is transitionable to a closed configuration tograsp tissue in a similar manner to that described in connection withother staple cartridges assemblies such as, for example, the staplecartridge assemblies 1150, 1250. A working end 2484 of a drive member(e.g., drive member 1182) defines an I-beam configured to effect afiring of the surgical stapling assembly 2450.

The working end 2484 includes a first flange 2484 a, a second flange, avertical strut 2484 c interconnecting the first flange 2484 a and thesecond flange, and a knife supported on or formed into the verticalstrut 2484 c. The second flange is positioned to be slidably receivedwithin a channel of an anvil assembly (e.g., anvil assembly 1130) andthe first flange 2484 a is positioned to be slidably positioned along anouter surface of surgical stapling assembly 2450. Actuation sled 2462 isdisposed within cartridge assembly 2450 at a position distal of theworking end 2484.

In various aspects, a flexible arm 2470 extends from the working end2484 into a channel 2471 defined in a side wall of a cartridge body 2459of the staple cartridge 2420. In illustrated example, the flexible arm2470 defines a leaf-spring arm member that passes through the channel2471 and latches onto a distal portion of the sled 2470. The flexiblearm 2470 is configured to retract the sled 2462 to a home, or starting,position.

In the channel 2471, the flexible arm 2470 is flattened such that it isnaturally pressing into the side of the sled 2462. In at least oneexample, a distal end of the flexible arm 2470 passes the distal end ofthe sled 2462. A tab 2472 extends out from the flexible arm 2470, in therelaxed position, to latch onto the front edge of the sled 2462. Themotion of the working end 2484 that occurs prior to driving the knife ofthe staple cartridge assembly 2450 during a full firing stroke willallow for the flexible arm 2470 to pull the sled 2462 back into thehome, or starting, position as long as the sled 2462 is within athreshold defined by the length of the side channel 2471.

FIGS. 47-51 illustrate various aspects of a sled resetting mechanism2500 for retracting a sled of a staple cartridge (e.g., staple cartridge2520) to a home position (H) prior to firing a surgical instrument todeploy staples of the staple cartridge 2520. As discussed elsewhereherein, a sled of an unfired staple cartridge can be inadvertently movedif the staple cartridge is bumped or shaken, which may cause the staplecartridge to be mistakenly deemed as fired and/or may cause a firinglockout assembly to be activated. The sled resetting mechanism 2500 isconfigured to return a sled that was inadvertently moved to its homeposition (H) within the staple cartridge as long as the sled has notmoved beyond a predetermined distance (d1) from the home position (H).

FIG. 47 illustrates a sled 2562 of the staple cartridge 2520 at aposition distal to the home position (H) but proximal to the distalposition (A) defined by the predetermined distance (d1). Prior tofiring, a sled resetting member 2592 retracts the sled 2562 to the homeposition (H). The sled resetting member 2592 includes catcher 2595,which can be in the form of a hook or a bent portion, configured toengage a distal portion of the sled 2562 to return the sled 2562 to thehome position (H).

In various aspects, a portion of the sled resetting member 2592 extends,and is slidably movable below the sled 2562 such as, for example, withina channel defined in a cartridge pan of the staple cartridge 2520. In atleast one example, as illustrated in FIG. 51 , the sled resetting member2592 is manually operable by an actuation member 2593 defined in ahandle 2507. A user can pull the actuation member 2593 proximally toreturn the sled 2562 to the home position (H) prior to activation of thefiring mechanism.

In another example, as illustrated in FIGS. 49 and 50 , the sledresetting member 2592 is powered by a motor assembly 2504 similar inmany respects to the motor drive assembly 1904 of the surgicalinstrument 1901. In the illustrated example, the motor drive assembly2504 includes a linear threaded coupler 2598 operably connected to thesled resetting member 2592. In the illustrated example, the motorassembly 2504 is housed in a handle 2510 that includes a trigger member2512. A movement of the trigger member 2512 to a first position causesthe motor assembly 2504 to retract the sled resetting member 2592thereby returning the sled 2562 to the home position (H). A secondmovement of the trigger member 2512 from the first position to a secondposition activates the firing stroke, or firing motion, to deploystaples from the staple cartridge 2520.

The sled resetting mechanism 2500 can be implemented in combination withother suitable embodiments of the present disclosure such as, forexample, a sled detection circuit. Further, the sled resetting mechanism2500 can be implemented in combination with suitable components of thesurgical stapling instrument 1901. For example, the control circuit 1930may determine that the sled is at a position different than the homeposition based on the sled detection circuit. In response, the controlcircuit 1930 may cause the motor assembly 2504 to return the sled to thehome position, which can be verified by the sled detection circuit, forexample.

In use, the sled 2562 is returned to the home position (H) by the sledresetting member 2592, as illustrated in FIG. 47 . Then, a drive member(e.g. drive member 1182), is configured to advance a working end thereof(e.g. working end 1184) to engage the sled 2562 to advance the sled 2562to deploy staples from the staple cartridge 2520. In various aspects, asillustrated in FIG. 48 , the sled resetting member 2592 includes araised portion 2597, which can be in the form of a ramp, positionedproximal to the catcher 2595. During advancement of the drive member2582, the working end 2584 may engage the raised portion 2597 prior toengaging the sled 2562, which causes the catcher 2595 to move out of afiring path 2503 of the sled 2562. In at least one example, the workingend 2584 causes the catcher 2595 to drop into the channel defined in thecartridge pan of the staple cartridge 2520, which permits furtheradvancement of the sled 3562.

In various aspects, setting acceptable and/or unacceptable sledpositions, or sled distances from the home position, which is alsoreferred to herein as a functional window, along a firing path candepend, at least in part, on staple cartridge size. Accordingly, toaccurately set such positions, or distances, surgical cartridge mayinclude identification codes which can be communicated to a controlcircuit (e.g., control circuit 1930) after attachment of the staplecartridge to the surgical instrument (e.g., surgical instrument 1901).The communication may occur through a wired connection with the staplecartridge, or wirelessly.

In various aspects, the control circuit may select a suitable functionwindow given the expected location of the sled contact based on thecommunicated identification code of the cartridge. In various aspects,the firing system may further adjust one or more parameters of apredetermined firing program such as, for example, theforce/velocity/stroke of both the sensing region based on theidentification of the cartridge and/or the actuation region based on thetiming/location of the sensed sled relative to its expected location.

Referring now to FIGS. 52-56 , a loading unit 2600 is similar in manyrespects to other loading units described elsewhere herein such as, forexample, the loading units 1100, 1200. For example, the loading unit2600 includes a staple cartridge assembly 2650 and an anvil assembly2630. At least one of the anvil assembly 2630 and the staple cartridgeassembly 2650 is movable relative to the other from an openconfiguration, as illustrated in FIG. 53 , to a closed configuration, asillustrated in FIG. 54 , to grasp tissue. Staples are deployed into thetissue from staple cavities 2621 defined in a cartridge body 2622 of astaple cartridge 2620 of the staple cartridge assembly 2650. The anvilassembly 2630 includes pockets configured to deform the staples.

Further to the above, the staple cartridge 2620 includes a cartridge pan2658 configured to prevent the staples from falling out of the staplecavities 2621. The cartridge body 2622 is attachable to the cartridgepan 2658 by way projections 2623 receivable in a corresponding cutouts2653 defined in side walls of the cartridge pan 2658. In variousexamples, the cutouts 26523 are sized and shaped to receive thecorresponding cutouts 2653 to secure the cartridge body 2622 to thecartridge pan 2657.

In use, the staple cartridge 2620 is inserted into the elongated channel2657 for assembly therewith. In various aspects, the staple cartridge2620 and the elongated channel 2657 comprise corresponding lockingfeatures. In the illustrated example, pan projections 2656, which aredefined in side walls of the cartridge pan 2658, are received inL-shaped slots 2659 when the staple cartridge 2620 is inserted into theelongated channel 2657.

The corresponding locking features of the staple cartridge 2620 and theelongated channel 2657 permit a proximal translating motion of thecartridge pan 2658 relative to the elongated channel 2658 to lock thestaple cartridge 2620 to the elongated channel 2657, and a distaltranslating motion of the cartridge pan 2658 relative to the elongatedchannel 2658 to unlock the staple cartridge 2620 to the elongatedchannel 2657. In the illustrated example, the L-shaped slots 2659 aresized and shaped to permit the corresponding projections 2656 totranslate proximally a distance “X” in the long arm of L-shaped slots2659 thereby locking the staple cartridge 2620 to the elongated channel2657, and to translate distally the distance “X” in the long arm ofL-shaped slots 2659 thereby unlocking the staple cartridge 2620 from theelongated channel 2657.

In other examples, the projections can be defined in an elongatedchannel and corresponding L-shaped slots can be defined in a cartridgepan of a staple cartridge. Furthermore, other suitable mating andlocking mechanisms can be implemented to produce locked and unlockedconfigurations of a staple cartridge and an elongated channel. Forexample, slots with other suitable shapes can replace the L-shaped slot.

Further to the above, the locking mechanism of the staple cartridge 2620to the elongated channel 2657 is implemented automatically during thetransition to a closed configuration of the anvil assembly 2630 and thestaple cartridge assembly 2650, as illustrated in FIGS. 53 and 54 . Incertain examples, the anvil assembly 2630 is configured to cause thecartridge pan 2658 to translate proximally relative to the elongatedchannel 2657 into the locked configuration. In the illustrated example,the anvil assembly 2630 includes camming members 2631 configured toretract the cartridge pan 2658 to the locked configuration as theloading unit 2600 is transitioned into the closed configuration (FIG. 54).

In the illustrated example, the cartridge pan 2658 includes a proximaltongue portion 2662 bisected by a pan slot 2663. The proximal tongueportion 2662 includes cutouts 2661 on opposite sides of the pan slot2663. The camming members 2631 are configured to engage proximal edges2664 of the cutouts 2661 during a closure motion of the loading unit2600. As the loading unit 2600 is transitioned to the closedconfiguration, the camming members 2631 exert a camming force againstthe proximal edges 2664 of the cutouts 2661 thereby causing thecartridge pan 2658 to translate proximally into the lockedconfiguration. Accordingly, the closure motion of the loading unit 2600automatically transitions the staple cartridge 2620 into a lockedconfiguration with the elongated channel 2657.

In the illustrated example, to ensure a proper engagement with thecamming member 2631 the proximal end of the proximal tongue portion 2662is bent toward the cutouts 2661 thereby forming the edges 2664. Thecamming members 2631 are configured to engage the edges 2664 as thecamming members 2631 pivot with the anvil assembly 2630 towards thestaple cartridge 2620. In other example, an anvil assembly including thecamming members 2631 can be fixed, and an elongated channel is pivotedtowards the anvil assembly to yield a closed configurations. In suchexamples, the edges 2664 are moved towards the camming members 2631.When the edges 2664 engage the camming members 2641, the camming forcecauses the cartridge pan 2658 to translate proximally to the lockedconfiguration.

Further to the above, the elongated channel 2657 includes proximal slotsor cutouts 2671 defined in a proximal portion of a base 2672 of theelongated channel 2657. The cutouts 2671 are laterally or transverselyaligned, or at least partially aligned, with the cutouts 2661. In theunlocked configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 53 , the cutouts 2661 aredistal to the cutouts 2671. However, in the locked configuration, asillustrated in FIG. 54 , the cutouts 2661 are longitudinally alignedwith cutouts 2671, or at least are closer to a longitudinal alignmentwith the cutouts 2671 than in the unlocked configuration. As the cammingmembers 1631 are pivotally moved in the cutouts 2661, 2671, the cammingmembers 2631 are configured to cause the cutouts 2661 to move proximallya distance “X” to be aligned, or at least partially aligned, with thecutouts 2671, as illustrated in FIG. 54 .

After completion of the firing stroke, a spent staple cartridge 2620 isremoved from the elongated channel 2657 by translating the cartridge pan2658 to the unlocked configuration. In the illustrated example, thecartridge pan 2658 includes a release feature 2655, which can be in theform of a finger tab. The release feature 2655 is slidably movabledistally in a corresponding slot 2620, defined in nose portion 2626 ofthe cartridge body 2622, to transition the staple cartridge 2620 to theunlocked configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 55 and 56 .

Referring now to FIGS. 57-61 , a staple surgical assembly 2750 includesan elongated channel 2757, a staple cartridge 2758, and a retainer 2730.The staple surgical assembly 2750 is similar in many respects to otherstaple surgical assemblies described elsewhere herein. For example, thestaple surgical assembly 2750 can be incorporated into any suitablesurgical instrument described elsewhere herein.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 57 , the staple cartridge assembly2750 is in a first configuration where the retainer 2730 is assembledwith the staple cartridge 2720 to prevent staples from inadvertentlyfalling out of staple cavities of the staple cartridge 2720. In thefirst configuration, long tabs 2731 of the retainer 2730 define retainerarms that engage a cartridge pan 2758 of the staple cartridge 2720, andshort tabs 2732 define retainer arms that engage a cartridge body 2721of the staple cartridge 2720. The tabs 2731, 2732 cooperate to maintainthe retainer 2730 pressed against a deck 2722 of the cartridge body 2721in the first configuration to maintain staples in their staple cavities.In the illustrated example, the cartridge body 2721 includes ledges 2723extending laterally from the deck 2722. The ledges 2723 are engaged bythe short tabs 2732 in the first configuration.

After completion of the firing stroke, a spent staple cartridge 2720 isremoved from the elongated channel 2757, as illustrated in FIGS. 58-61 ,by the retainer 2730. In a second configuration, the long tabs 2731 ofthe retainer 2730 are inserted through tracks or notches 2724 defined inthe cartridge body 2721, as best illustrated in FIG. 60 . The tabs 2731release collapsible members 2755 of the cartridge pan 2558 fromcorresponding apertures 2756 of the elongated channel 2757 to permitremoval of the staple cartridge 2720 from the elongated channel 2757 bythe retainer 2730, as illustrated in FIG. 61 .

In the illustrated example, the collapsible members 2755 are in the formof leaf springs that can be stamped or formed in the sidewalls of thecartridge pan 2758. The tabs 2731 include hook features 2733 configuredto collapse the collapsible members 2755 to release the collapsiblemembers 2755 from the apertures 2756 as the tabs 2731 are advanced inthe tracks 2724, and further configured to form a movablelocking-engagement with the collapsed collapsible members 2755 in thesecond configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 60 .

The retainer 2730 is then pulled away from the elongated channel 2757 toremove the staple cartridge 2720 from the elongated channel 2757, asillustrated in FIG. 61 . As the retainer 2730 is pulled away, the hookfeatures 2733 lift the collapsible members 2755 out of the tracks 2724thereby releasing the staple cartridge 2720 from the elongated channel2757.

In the illustrated example, the apertures 2756 are defined in sidewallsof the elongated channel 2757 in the form of cutouts. In other examples,the apertures 2756 can be replaced with recesses or slots defined oninner surfaces of the inner walls of the elongated channel 2757. Therecesses or slots are shaped and sized to receive the collapsiblemembers 2755 in their natural state in a similar manner to thatillustrated in FIG. 59 with respect to the apertures 2756.

Referring still to FIGS. 59-61 , a method of using the retainer 2730 toremove a spent staple cartridge 2720 from the elongated channel 2757 isdepicted. The method includes decoupling the retainer 2730 from thestaple cartridge assembly 2750. The method further includes insertingthe tabs 2731 into the track 2724, releasing the collapsible members2755 from the apertures 2756 by the hook features 2733 of the tabs 2731,and forming a movable locking-engagement between the collapsedcollapsible members 2755 and the hook features 2733 in the tracks 2724.The method further includes pulling the retainer 2730 away from theelongated channel 2757 to remove the spent staple cartridge 2720 fromthe elongated channel 2757.

Referring now to FIG. 62 , a staple surgical assembly 2850 includes aquick-release feature that facilitates removal of a staple cartridge2820 from an elongated channel 2857 of a surgical instrument. The staplesurgical assembly 2850 is similar in many respects to other staplesurgical assemblies described elsewhere herein. For example, the staplesurgical assembly 2850 can be incorporated into any suitable surgicalinstrument described elsewhere herein.

The staple cartridge 2820 includes a cartridge body 2821 and a cartridgepan 2858. Furthermore, the staple cartridge 2858 includes a cartridgerelease member 2822 movably disposed in a nose portion 2823 of thecartridge body 2821. In the illustrated example, the cartridge releasemember 2822 is linearly movable through a passage 2824 defined in thenose portion 2823 from an unactuated configuration to an actuatedconfiguration. In the unactuated configuration, as illustrated in FIG.62 , the cartridge release member 2822 protrudes from the nose portion2823 through one end of the passage 2824. When actuated, by applying anexternal pressure thereto for example, the cartridge release member 2822moves in the passage 2824, and protrudes through the other end of thepassage 2824. The cartridge release member 2822 then presses against theelongated channel 2857 to release the staple cartridge 2820 from theelongated channel 2857. In the illustrated example, the passage 2824defines a direction of motion for the cartridge release member 2822 thatis at an acute angle with the elongated channel 2857

The surgical instrument systems described herein are motivated by anelectric motor; however, the surgical instrument systems describedherein can be motivated in any suitable manner. In certain instances,the motors disclosed herein may comprise a portion or portions of arobotically controlled system. U.S. Pat. Application Serial No.13/118,241, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLEDEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,072,535, for example,discloses several examples of a robotic surgical instrument system ingreater detail, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein. The disclosures of International Patent PublicationNo. WO 2017/083125, entitled STAPLER WITH COMPOSITE CARDAN AND SCREWDRIVE, published May 18, 2017, International Patent Publication No. WO2017/083126, entitled STAPLE PUSHER WITH LOST MOTION BETWEEN RAMPS,published May 18, 2017, International Patent Publication No. WO2015/153642, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SHIFTABLE TRANSMISSION,published Oct. 8, 2015, U.S. Pat. Application Publication No.2017/0265954, filed Mar. 17, 2017, entitled STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVENADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DUAL DISTAL PULLEYS, U.S. Pat.Application Publication No. 2017/0265865, filed Feb. 15, 2017, entitledSTAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DISTALPULLEY, and U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2017/0290586, entitledSTAPLING CARTRIDGE, filed on Mar. 29, 2017, are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

The surgical instrument systems described herein have been described inconnection with the deployment and deformation of staples; however, theembodiments described herein are not so limited. Various embodiments areenvisioned which deploy fasteners other than staples, such as clamps ortacks, for example. Moreover, various embodiments are envisioned whichutilize any suitable means for sealing tissue. For instance, an endeffector in accordance with various embodiments can comprise electrodesconfigured to heat and seal the tissue. Also, for instance, an endeffector in accordance with certain embodiments can apply vibrationalenergy to seal the tissue.

EXAMPLES

Various aspects of the subject matter described herein are set out inthe following numbered examples.

Example 1 - A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling instrument.The loading unit comprises a shaft and an end effector extending fromthe shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw that comprising ananvil, and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the secondjaw is movable relative to the other to grasp tissue. The second jawcomprises an elongated channel comprising retaining features, and astaple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel for assemblytherewith. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge pan, and a sledtranslatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position towarda second position. The retaining features are configured to resist amovement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predeterminedforce.

Example 2 - The loading unit of Example 1, further comprising a drivingmember configured to move the sled toward the second position.

Example 3 - The loading unit of Examples 1 or 2, further comprising afiring lockout assembly configured to prevent advancement of the drivemember.

Example 4 - The loading unit of Example 3, wherein the lockout assemblyis deactivated when the sled is maintained by the retention features atthe first position.

Example 5 - The loading unit of Examples 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein thecartridge pan comprises a longitudinal pan slot extending longitudinallyalong a portion thereof, and wherein the driving member defines a planeextending along the longitudinal pan slot.

Example 6 - The loading unit of Example 5, wherein the retainingfeatures are located on opposite sides of the plane.

Example 7 - The loading unit of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, whereinthe sled comprises bores configured to receive the retaining featureswhen the sled is at the first position.

Example 8 - The loading unit of Example 7, wherein the retainingfeatures are configured to extend through the cartridge pan into thebores defined in the sled to maintain the sled at the first position.

Example 9 - The loading unit of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8,wherein the retaining features comprise a leaf spring.

Example 10 - The loading unit of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9,wherein the retaining features comprise a protrusion comprising a radiusof curvature.

Example 11 - The loading unit of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or10, wherein the retention features are collapsible.

Example 12 - The loading unit of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,or 11, wherein the retaining features are defined in side walls of theelongated channels, and wherein the retaining features are configured tobe received in corresponding side grooves of the sled when the sled islocated at the first position.

Example 13 - A staple cartridge for use with a surgical staplinginstrument an elongated channel and a driving member. The staplecartridge comprising a deck defining a tissue contacting surface, ahousing, and a cartridge pan releasably attachable to the elongatedchannel. The staple cartridge further comprises retaining features,staple drivers stored in the housing between the deck and the cartridgepan, and staples stored in the housing. The staples are deployablethrough the deck into tissue by the staple drivers. The staple cartridgefurther comprises a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan froma first position toward a second position to motivate the staple driversto deploy the staples. The retaining features are configured to resist amovement of the sled beyond the first position up to a predeterminedforce.

Example 14 - The staple cartridge of Example 13, wherein the cartridgepan comprises a longitudinal pan slot extending longitudinally along aportion thereof, wherein the driving member defines a plane extendingalong the longitudinal pan slot, and wherein the retaining features arelocated on opposite sides of the plane.

Example 15 - The staple cartridge of Examples 13 or 14, wherein theretaining features comprise perforated breakable doors located betweenthe first position and the second position.

Example 16 - The staple cartridge of Examples 13, 14, or 15, wherein theretaining features are collapsible.

Example 17 - The staple cartridge of Examples 13, 14, 15, or 16, whereinthe retaining features are deactivated when the staple cartridge isassembled with the elongated channel.

Example 18 - A staple cartridge assembly that comprises an elongatedchannel comprising a first retaining feature, and a staple cartridgeinsertable into the elongated channel for assembly therewith. The staplecartridge comprises a cartridge pan comprising a second retainingfeature, and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan from afirst position toward a second position. The retaining features areconfigured to resist a movement by the sled beyond the first position upto a predetermined force.

Example 19 - The staple cartridge assembly of Example 18, wherein thefirst retaining feature is configured to maintain the sled prior to theinsertion of the staple cartridge into the elongated channel but notafter the insertion of the staple cartridge into the elongated channel.

Example 20 - The staple cartridge assembly of Examples 18 or 19, whereinthe second retaining feature is configured to maintain the sled afterthe insertion of the staple cartridge into the elongated channel but notbefore the insertion of the staple cartridge into the elongated channel.

While several forms have been illustrated and described, it is not theintention of Applicant to restrict or limit the scope of the appendedclaims to such detail. Numerous modifications, variations, changes,substitutions, combinations, and equivalents to those forms may beimplemented and will occur to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the structure ofeach element associated with the described forms can be alternativelydescribed as a means for providing the function performed by theelement. Also, where materials are disclosed for certain components,other materials may be used. It is therefore to be understood that theforegoing description and the appended claims are intended to cover allsuch modifications, combinations, and variations as falling within thescope of the disclosed forms. The appended claims are intended to coverall such modifications, variations, changes, substitutions,modifications, and equivalents.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various forms of thedevices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples can beimplemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range ofhardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof.Those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the formsdisclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implementedin integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on oneor more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or morecomputer systems), as one or more programs running on one or moreprocessors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or moremicroprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof,and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for thesoftware and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skillin the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matterdescribed herein are capable of being distributed as one or more programproducts in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative form of thesubject matter described herein applies regardless of the particulartype of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out thedistribution.

Instructions used to program logic to perform various disclosed aspectscan be stored within a memory in the system, such as dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM), cache, flash memory, or other storage.Furthermore, the instructions can be distributed via a network or by wayof other computer readable media. Thus a machine-readable medium mayinclude any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a formreadable by a machine (e.g., a computer), but is not limited to, floppydiskettes, optical disks, compact disc, read-only memory (CD-ROMs), andmagneto-optical disks, read-only memory (ROMs), random access memory(RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic or opticalcards, flash memory, or a tangible, machine-readable storage used in thetransmission of information over the Internet via electrical, optical,acoustical or other forms of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves,infrared signals, digital signals, etc.). Accordingly, thenon-transitory computer-readable medium includes any type of tangiblemachine-readable medium suitable for storing or transmitting electronicinstructions or information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer).

As used in any aspect herein, the term “control circuit” may refer to,for example, hardwired circuitry, programmable circuitry (e.g., acomputer processor including one or more individual instructionprocessing cores, processing unit, processor, microcontroller,microcontroller unit, controller, digital signal processor (DSP),programmable logic device (PLD), programmable logic array (PLA), orfield programmable gate array (FPGA)), state machine circuitry, firmwarethat stores instructions executed by programmable circuitry, and anycombination thereof. The control circuit may, collectively orindividually, be embodied as circuitry that forms part of a largersystem, for example, an integrated circuit (IC), an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a system on-chip (SoC), desktop computers,laptop computers, tablet computers, servers, smart phones, etc.Accordingly, as used herein “control circuit” includes, but is notlimited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electricalcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computerconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessorconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forminga memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), and/or electricalcircuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communicationsswitch, or optical-electrical equipment). Those having skill in the artwill recognize that the subject matter described herein may beimplemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combination thereof.

As used in any aspect herein, the term “logic” may refer to an app,software, firmware and/or circuitry configured to perform any of theaforementioned operations. Software may be embodied as a softwarepackage, code, instructions, instruction sets and/or data recorded onnon-transitory computer readable storage medium. Firmware may beembodied as code, instructions or instruction sets and/or data that arehard-coded (e.g., nonvolatile) in memory devices.

As used in any aspect herein, the terms “component,” “system,” “module”and the like can refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, acombination of hardware and software, software, or software inexecution.

As used in any aspect herein, an “algorithm” refers to a self-consistentsequence of steps leading to a desired result, where a “step” refers toa manipulation of physical quantities and/or logic states which may,though need not necessarily, take the form of electrical or magneticsignals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, andotherwise manipulated. It is common usage to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or thelike. These and similar terms may be associated with the appropriatephysical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to thesequantities and/or states.

A network may include a packet switched network. The communicationdevices may be capable of communicating with each other using a selectedpacket switched network communications protocol. One examplecommunications protocol may include an Ethernet communications protocolwhich may be capable permitting communication using a TransmissionControl Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). The Ethernet protocol maycomply or be compatible with the Ethernet standard published by theInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) titled “IEEE802.3 Standard”, published in December, 2008 and/or later versions ofthis standard. Alternatively or additionally, the communication devicesmay be capable of communicating with each other using an X.25communications protocol. The X.25 communications protocol may comply orbe compatible with a standard promulgated by the InternationalTelecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector(ITU-T). Alternatively or additionally, the communication devices may becapable of communicating with each other using a frame relaycommunications protocol. The frame relay communications protocol maycomply or be compatible with a standard promulgated by ConsultativeCommittee for International Telegraph and Telephone (CCITT) and/or theAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI). Alternatively oradditionally, the transceivers may be capable of communicating with eachother using an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communications protocol.The ATM communications protocol may comply or be compatible with an ATMstandard published by the ATM Forum titled “ATM-MPLS NetworkInterworking 2.0” published August 2001, and/or later versions of thisstandard. Of course, different and/or after-developedconnection-oriented network communication protocols are equallycontemplated herein.

Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the foregoingdisclosure, it is appreciated that, throughout the foregoing disclosure,discussions using terms such as “processing,” “computing,”“calculating,” “determining,” “displaying,” or the like, refer to theaction and processes of a computer system, or similar electroniccomputing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented asphysical (electronic) quantities within the computer system’s registersand memories into other data similarly represented as physicalquantities within the computer system memories or registers or othersuch information storage, transmission or display devices.

One or more components may be referred to herein as “configured to,”“configurable to,” “operable/operative to,” “adapted/adaptable,” “ableto,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that “configured to” can generally encompass active-statecomponents and/or inactive-state components and/or standby-statecomponents, unless context requires otherwise.

The terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein with reference to aclinician manipulating the handle portion of the surgical instrument.The term “proximal” refers to the portion closest to the clinician andthe term “distal” refers to the portion located away from the clinician.It will be further appreciated that, for convenience and clarity,spatial terms such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, and “down” may beused herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instrumentsare used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are notintended to be limiting and/or absolute.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that, in general, terms usedherein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to claims containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitationis explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that suchrecitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recitednumber (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “Aor B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.”

With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art willappreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed inany order. Also, although various operational flow diagrams arepresented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the variousoperations may be performed in other orders than those which areillustrated, or may be performed concurrently. Examples of suchalternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted,reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous,reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise.Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or otherpast-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude suchvariants, unless context dictates otherwise.

It is worthy to note that any reference to “one aspect,” “an aspect,”“an exemplification,” “one exemplification,” and the like means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the aspect is included in at least one aspect. Thus, appearances ofthe phrases “in one aspect,” “in an aspect,” “in an exemplification,”and “in one exemplification” in various places throughout thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same aspect.Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more aspects.

In this specification, unless otherwise indicated, terms “about” or“approximately” as used in the present disclosure, unless otherwisespecified, means an acceptable error for a particular value asdetermined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which depends in part onhow the value is measured or determined. In certain embodiments, theterm “about” or “approximately” means within 1, 2, 3, or 4 standarddeviations. In certain embodiments, the term “about” or “approximately”means within 50%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%,0.5%, or 0.05% of a given value or range.

In this specification, unless otherwise indicated, all numericalparameters are to be understood as being prefaced and modified in allinstances by the term “about,” in which the numerical parameters possessthe inherent variability characteristic of the underlying measurementtechniques used to determine the numerical value of the parameter. Atthe very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of thedoctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numericalparameter described herein should at least be construed in light of thenumber of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary roundingtechniques.

Any numerical range recited herein includes all sub-ranges subsumedwithin the recited range. For example, a range of “1 to 10” includes allsub-ranges between (and including) the recited minimum value of 1 andthe recited maximum value of 10, that is, having a minimum value equalto or greater than 1 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10. Also,all ranges recited herein are inclusive of the end points of the recitedranges. For example, a range of “1 to 10” includes the end points 1 and10. Any maximum numerical limitation recited in this specification isintended to include all lower numerical limitations subsumed therein,and any minimum numerical limitation recited in this specification isintended to include all higher numerical limitations subsumed therein.Accordingly, Applicant reserves the right to amend this specification,including the claims, to expressly recite any sub-range subsumed withinthe ranges expressly recited. All such ranges are inherently describedin this specification.

Any patent application, patent, non-patent publication, or otherdisclosure material referred to in this specification and/or listed inany Application Data Sheet is incorporated by reference herein, to theextent that the incorporated materials is not inconsistent herewith. Assuch, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly setforth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein byreference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to beincorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existingdefinitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth hereinwill only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises betweenthat incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

In summary, numerous benefits have been described which result fromemploying the concepts described herein. The foregoing description ofthe one or more forms has been presented for purposes of illustrationand description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible inlight of the above teachings. The one or more forms were chosen anddescribed in order to illustrate principles and practical application tothereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the variousforms and with various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated. It is intended that the claims submitted herewith definethe overall scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with asurgical stapling instrument, the staple cartridge assembly comprising:an elongated channel comprising retaining features; and a staplecartridge insertable into the elongated channel, wherein the staplecartridge comprises: a deck defining a tissue contacting surface; ahousing; a cartridge pan releasably attachable to the elongated channel;staple drivers stored in the housing between the deck and the cartridgepan; staples stored in the housing, wherein the staples are deployablethrough the deck into tissue by the staple drivers; and a sledtranslatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position towarda second position to motivate the staple drivers to deploy the staples,wherein the retaining features are configured to resist a movement ofthe sled beyond the first position up to a predetermined force.
 2. Thestaple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the cartridge pancomprises a longitudinal pan slot extending longitudinally along aportion thereof.
 3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 2, whereinthe retaining features are located on opposite sides of the longitudinalpan slot.
 4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein theelongated channel comprises a channel slot extending longitudinallyalong a base portion thereof.
 5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim4, wherein the retaining features are located on opposite sides of thechannel slot.
 6. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein thesled comprises bores configured to receive the retaining features whenthe sled is at the first position.
 7. The staple cartridge assembly ofclaim 6, wherein the retaining features are configured to extend throughthe cartridge pan into the bores defined in the sled to maintain thesled at the first position.
 8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1,wherein the retaining features comprise a protrusion comprising a radiusof curvature.
 9. A staple cartridge assembly comprising: an elongatedchannel comprising retaining features; and a staple cartridge insertableinto the elongated channel, wherein the staple cartridge comprises: acartridge pan releasably attachable to the elongated channel; stapledrivers stored in a housing between a deck defining a tissue contactingsurface and the cartridge pan; staples stored in the housing, whereinthe staples are deployable through the deck into tissue by the stapledrivers; and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan from afirst position toward a second position to motivate the staple driversto deploy the staples.
 10. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 9,wherein the retaining features are configured to resist a movement ofthe sled beyond the first position up to a predetermined force.
 11. Thestaple cartridge assembly of claim 9, wherein the cartridge pancomprises a longitudinal pan slot extending longitudinally along aportion thereof.
 12. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 11, whereinthe elongated channel comprises a channel slot extending longitudinallyalong a base portion thereof.
 13. The staple cartridge assembly of claim12, wherein the sled is translatable distally along the pan slot andchannel slot from the first position toward the second position todeploy the staples.
 14. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 12,wherein the retaining features are located on opposite sides of thechannel slot.
 15. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 9, wherein thesled comprises apertures, bores, grooves, or detents configured toreceive the retaining features when the sled is at the first position.16. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 15, wherein the retainingfeatures are configured to extend through corresponding apertures orcutouts in the cartridge pan and into the apertures, bores, grooves, ordetents of the sled to maintain the sled at the first position.
 17. Thestaple cartridge assembly of claim 9, wherein the retaining featurescomprise a triangular prism shape, a partial ellipsoid shape, a partialspherical shape, a partial cylindrical shape, or a truncated pyramidshape.
 18. A staple cartridge assembly, comprising: an elongated channelcomprising a retaining feature; and a staple cartridge insertable intothe elongated channel for assembly therewith, wherein the staplecartridge comprises: a cartridge pan comprising an aperture; and a sledtranslatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position towarda second position, wherein the retaining feature is configured to resista movement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predeterminedforce.
 19. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 18, wherein the sledcomprises a detent configured to receive the retaining feature, andwherein the retaining feature comprises: a base portion protruding fromthe elongated channel and extending into the aperture of the cartridgepan; and a head portion protruding from the base portion and extendinginto the detent of the sled.
 20. The staple cartridge assembly of claim19, wherein the base portion is configured to ensure proper alignment ofthe staple cartridge with the elongated channel, and wherein the headportion is configured to ensure that the sled remains at the firstposition until a driving force greater than a predetermined drivingforce is applied thereto.